Chapter 8: Lead me not into temptation-I can find it for myself
By the time Hatter made it over to help get things underway, Harry had already finished helping the old man prepare everything. Stories about the Alice of Legend for Harry when he'd first arrived were only to be rivaled by those of the lost Checkerboard Kingdom of the Knights in interest. Having a supposedly living member from that legendry place around was clearly quite exciting for the lad; not to mention Charlie having called him a squire. The Knight offered Alice the use of his horse while he walked along beside her, but she declined stating the need for speed over comfort. Seeing the way she warily eyed the animals made Hatter wonder if that was the only reason. Jumping at an opportunity, Hatter swiftly offered to ride with Alice while Harry went with the Knight. The smirk on his cousin's face continued to demonstrate the lad's ability to read into his true intentions. Hatter also persisted to do what he normally did in those situations and pretended not to notice. Just because she was determined to save this boyfriend of hers, didn't mean he couldn't enjoy her company. Besides, even if she was as devoted to this Jack as she claimed to be, then it he'd still get to enjoy the feeling of her pressed up against him.
Before they could leave however, Charlie had one last task to do as he attached a strip of netting to the back of Hatter and Alice's horse that he claimed would wipe their tracks away. Skeptic of the man's claims to having any magical prowess, Hatter and Alice both turned to watch as they trotted off, with varying degrees of astonishment, when the netting did as stated. As it swept over the horses' tracks, various forest fauna and dirt rearranged themselves to completely erase the marks. Maybe the mad Knight had a trick or two up his sleeve after all. Hatter wasn't able to make out what Harry and the old Knight were talking about as they rode on, but his cousin seemed to be having an animated discussion with the knight if the gestures and facial expressions were anything to go by; while he was having surprising results from his conversation with Alice.
"Harry seems like a good kid," she commented shortly after they got underway, "though I'd be lying if I said I wasn't surprised that you've raised him so well."
"You mean I don't strike you as the parental type?" Hatter smiled over his shoulder at Alice and was pleased to see she had a small smile as well. "Truthfully," he continued, "It wasn't all tea and crumpets for either of us that first year. We both had a lot of adjustments to make, but him more so than me. I'm sure it won't shock you to learn he was already a good kid by the time he came to stay with me."
Alice smirked behind him, "So you're just responsible for the corruption of his innocence then?"
"Not by half," Hatter stated distastefully, "If anything, I'd consider him a much more rounded individual; now that I've helped him along anyway. Harry may not have learned his manners completely from me, but they also weren't enforced by his former guardians rewarding him for good behavior, if you catch my meaning." He glanced back to see her expression change from confused, to shocked, and finally a bit sad as she digested what he'd said for a minute or two.
"Is that why he's with you?" Alice asked after he'd turned frontward again.
Not wanting to go more into Harry's past then he already had, Hatter shrugged indifferently, "More or less, but I like to think he's rubbed off on me as well. Can't say I'd be rushing head fist into an adventure like this one's turned out to be if it hadn't been for him." He gave a grin at Alice before continuing, "I maybe a sucker for women in very wet dresses, but even this is a bit out of my backhand dealing expertise."
His flirtatious remark went off much better than it had upon their first meeting as she gave him a brief smile before becoming serious. "Hatter," Alice said, "After we rescue Jack, and go back to my world, I'd like to help you and Harry get set up. Even with all the complications we've had, it'll be the least I can do for all your help in the end." Shocked at her proclamation, Hatter wasn't quite sure what to say in response. She was still adamant on rescuing this Jack, but Hatter wasn't stupid enough to throw away an offer like that by arguing with her about it right now.
In the end, he settled on an open answer, "Well, seems only fair I suppose, yeah?" Alice nodded against his back, and Hatter took the opportunity to transition to a lighter subject. "So, you comfy back there?"
"No," Alice scrunched up her face and shifted her weight around slightly, "Of course not. I'm sitting on the back of a horse, which, I haven't done since girl scouts back in the fourth grade, and I'm pretty sure I've bruised something from all the falls I've had today."
Hatter smirked and turned his head back slightly. "Well, you're more than welcome to put your arms around my waist and place all your weight on me to relieve some of that tension if you like."
"No I'm good," Alice brushed his off his comment with a smirk, "Wouldn't want you to take on more than you can handle anyway." Interesting… Hatter wasn't sure weather to object at the implied insult or laugh at her comeback, so he settled on not commenting or letting her see his smile. Maybe she didn't need chocolate and cream cake to forget about this Jack after all.
The remainder of the trip passed fairly uneventfully. Seeing a five story high mushroom and having Harry fall off the back of his horse as he tried to keep sight of it was the only highlight. Charlie continued to show off his flare for the dramatic when he dismounted and pulled back some hanging plants to give his traveling companions a panoramic view of the lost Checkerboard Kingdom.
The once magnificent city was clearly riddled with ivy and plant growth that could be seen even from their current distance, and much of the stonework buildings had crumbled in disrepair. Enough of it remained intact though that it was easy to picture it as it once was; with gleaming towering chess figurines scattered throughout and incorporated into the main city design. As they rode pass what was left of the city's east gates, it became quickly apparent that much of the forest had moved back in to reclaim the land over the decades once the former occupants were no longer there to keep them at bay. The confirmation of this was even more evident though when Charlie had brought the group to a halt once they reached his home, and informed them that it used to be the throne room of the Red King. His skeletal remains sat upon a dilapidated stone chair to the side of the much used clearing; a crown and a few pieces of jewelry still adorning the once regal form. The sight both intrigued and disturbed the new visitors to the city.
After stabling the horses, Charlie proclaimed that he was off to catch a feast for their dinner tonight, so Alice quickly offered to get a fire going since the sun was almost set and night would be upon them soon. She then sent the two cousins out to gather some kindling while she looked for something to start the fire with. Harry offered to start it with his magic, but Hatter quite clearly remembered when he was learning that particular skill and told him it would only be as a last resort. He really didn't fancy having the entire forest set ablaze if Harry was unable to control the flames. It quickly became apparent upon their return to camp however that while Alice was a fighter and a survivor, she only knew the basic concepts of living outside of city comforts; leaving Harry to see about lighting the fire with an eager gleam in his eye. Hatter made sure to keep himself and Alice at what he considered a minimum safe distance of ten or fifteen feet. Thankfully, his fear was unfounded this time as after an initial large burst, the fire condensed to an easily manageable size within the already established fire pit.
With still no sign of Charlie, Harry took to his innate curiosity and explored the elderly knight's home. It was a home in the simplest definition of the word instead of an actual structure, with a majority of it out in the open. A cloth hammock hung near a wall of the enclosure, with oddly connected sticks, pails, ropes and various other pieces that looked like they would hit one of the hanging bird cages when in motion behind it. There were weapons of varying designs on a rack under an overhang that connected to the only proper structure in the clearing; which even then wasn't much more then a one room house and attached horse stable. The room contained a brass frame bed with a patched quilt, a changing screen, a chest of drawers to hold the man's clothing, and bits of contraptions from his tinkering. Right outside the large sliding wooden door of the one room was an old fashioned footed bath and washing tub for cleaning. A little dissatisfied by his short personal tour of the place, Harry ended up joining Alice by the fire. Not really sure what to talk to her about, he decided to pull his ancestor's journal out and read the next section.
The two sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before Alice spoke up, "Not worried about where Hatter's gone off to?"
"Nope," Harry stated as he glanced up from his book to look around, "He's probably just making sure the area's safe. I know he'll be back." He continued to read his journal as Alice fell silent for a moment. Harry was very curious about this Alice. He knew she couldn't be the Alice of Legend, but that didn't make her any less of an interesting person. She had a fierce determination about her and acted like someone who was used to working for what they wanted. After living with Hatter in the Tea Shop for the past few years and seeing what a Wonderlander would do just for an easy fix, she was thrillingly different. He could also tell that his cousin liked this about her as well. It would be interesting to see what happened once they rescued Jack.
"So," Alice tried again, "What're you reading? I haven't seen any books around except for those in the Great Library."
Harry smiled and passed the book over for her to look at, "You probably won't see any books out in the open anywhere but there. 'An educated people are an informed people, and those types of people are capable of thinking things the Queen doesn't approve of'. That's what Hatter told me when I asked about his books shortly after I came to live with him, and it makes sense I suppose; especially if you've met enough Wonderlanders. Anyway, that's a journal that we're fairly sure was written by an ancestor of mine. Take a look at the inside cover."
Alice did at his prompting and her eyebrows rose as she read the handwritten title. "Archibald Potter? Didn't Hatter call you something like that earlier today? Something Potter?"
Harry laughed lightly, "Yeah, it's always been his nickname for me. Little Potter. Potter's my last name."
"Hmm, Harry Potter," she stated and then smiled, "Doesn't seem like a very Wonderland name from my limited experience." Harry just shrugged in response and Alice didn't push him for more. "And what, you two think the guy who wrote this was your distant ancestor?" she asked plainly as she flipped casually through a few pages.
"The more I read, the more we think he might have been my grandfather," Harry replied happily, "Best we can figure, he seems to have owned the Tea Shop before Hatter did, based off his descriptions. We haven't been able to verify it of course, but the explanations match up."
Alice nodded along as he spoke and glanced at the pages, only picking out a word or sentence occasionally. She was near the end when one word seemed to pop out at her and she stopped to read the sentence it was in. Eyes widening at the implication, she pointed it out to Harry, "I'm not sure if you've read this part yet, but he mentions a city here from my world. London. Here take a look." Harry promptly grabbed the book from her and read the related entry.
As my daughter has married and goes off to make her own family now, I find I no longer regret being here in Wonderland. A part of me will always long for my family's old estate in Devonshire and to see the streets of London again, but my heart is content in the family I have made here as well. That they will never meet their true potential is my only regret…
The two cousins had always assumed that Harry's family was from Wonderland, and while the journal did prove that, this passage also revealed that he might have some Oyster heritage as well. Hoping he wasn't being rude, Harry decided to ask a request of Alice, "Did you get marked by the light since you've been here?"
She nodded and rubbed her right forearm. Well that explained why Hatter let her borrow one of his jackets. "Some spotlight from the Scarab the night I landed here got my arm," she told him and looked curiously at him, "Why'd you wanna know?"
Harry hesitated, "Well, it's just… I've never met an Oyster with the mark before and… I was wondering if you'd let me look at it."
Alice seemed to think this was an odd request from her expression, but she unbuttoned her right jacket sleeve and rolled it up anyway for him to take a look. The mark took up a good portion of her forearm and was a dark green sort of swirling design he'd seen on Hatter's shirts before that his cousin called 'paisley'. Looking at it brought the word tattoo to surface of his thoughts, but since he was fairly sure those only existed in the Oyster World so he swallowed his question about it. There were very few rules set up when Hatter took him in, but the one that made more sense as time went on was that no one was to know Harry had ever been in the Oyster World. Maybe if Hatter really took him to live back in the Oyster World after they helped Alice it wouldn't be a problem anymore, but until then he wasn't saying anything without his older cousin's permission. His gaze must have been making her uncomfortable though as she began to rub the mark.
Realizing this, Harry was about to let go of her arm when an idea came to him. "Alice," he offered, "I might be able to remove your mark if you'll let me try."
"Depends on what you want to try," she said with a smile, "More of your magic?"
He nodded, "One of the first abilities I learned how to do was change the color of things. I haven't tried it on people yet, but it can't be very different, yeah?"
Alice hesitated briefly before replying, "It's not that I don't trust you to do your best Harry, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable being a test subject, ya know? The whole concept of magic is just… staggering to me still. If I hadn't seen what I have today, then I still wouldn't believe it existed. So, I think I'll have to pass on the offer for now."
He smiled understandingly and let her arm go. When he'd first been presented with the idea of magic, it was fairly easy to accept since odd things had always happened around him. Not being from Wonderland though, Alice would have a harder time coming to believe the concept that magic existed, and her refusal didn't bother him. "Well, if you change your mind, just let me know and I'll give it a try," Harry told her, and went back to his book.
Hatter and Charlie returned not long after Harry had made his offer to Alice, with a weird looking four legged creature being carried between them. The old knight was ecstatic with his catch of what he called a Borogrove, and promptly requisitioned Hatter to assist him in setting it up to roast over the fire. Alice's stomach grumbled loudly as a reminder of how long it had been since she'd last eaten, and she no idea how long this animal would take to cook. Hatter had been next to her when her belly had loudly rumbled and he shot her an inquisitive smile before handing her something from his pocket. Puzzled, she unwrapped the cloth napkin to discover two partly misshapen -but still edible- scones from the hat shop earlier in the day. Still slightly surprised by his kindness, she looked up to thank him and saw he'd moved to the other side of the fire to sit with Harry, who was also eating a scone as well. Instead she just smiled gratefully at him as she caught his eye and bit into one. They were a bit dry without anything to drink, but held her over for the next two hours until Charlie proclaimed that dinner was ready.
The meat had smelt delicious as it roasted over the fire and none of the travelers were surprised when it tasted just as good. Alice was quick to compliment the knight on his catch and he proudly regaled her with a lengthy rendition of his quest to capture the beast. Hatter quietly chimed in after Charlie finished his tale, inquiring if there was someplace he could move Harry. The boy had fallen asleep after eating his portion and was currently dozing against Hatter's arm. At Charlie's insistence, Alice was forced to accept the only bed, but she did take a blanket off to add to the pile on the floor that Hatter was making into an imitation bed for Harry. Once the youngest member of their group was squared away, Charlie bid the two of them goodnight as well and made for his hammock. Snoring could be heard from his direction not long after he'd settled down.
With the two of them alone for the first time since that morning, Alice took the opportunity to talk to Hatter about how they would be contacting the White Rabbit tomorrow. "One of the girls that works for me, Della, has a brother who's married to a woman that works in financing for their Organization," Hatter informed her as he twirled his hat between his hands. He could tell by her doubtful look that his response didn't exactly impress her. "I told you it was a long shot," Hatter reminded her, "but as long as you've got that ring, I'd say you've got a chance."
Alice looked at him slightly puzzled, "What happened to, us? Something change your mind?"
Hatter sighed and ran a hand through his hair, causing it to stick up at odd angles. "Ever since we got here, I've been thinking about things, and I just can't leave, Alice. Seeing this place… what's become of it and what it could have been…I can't just abandon Wonderland. I've got to fight." While his confession was much nobler than he'd seemed when she'd met him this morning, (had it really been less than a day? She felt like she'd been longer than that already) Alice felt an old wound flare up in response to his decision.
"What about Harry?" she retorted a bit sharply, "You planning on dragging him around while you do that? And what if something should happen to you? Where would he go?!" her voice increased in intensity as she spoke.
"I was hoping you'd take him with you," Hatter calmly cut her off before she gained more momentum. If he'd been trying to shock her, it had the desired effect as she went from looking angry to gob smacked in a manner seconds.
"You…what?" she tried to contemplate what he was suggesting.
He sighed and hearing some rusting leaves in the distance, he looked out into the blackness of the surrounding forest. "Being able to read people is a part of my job Alice, and though stubborn and willful you maybe, you're also a good person and I know you'd take good care of him." With the forest quite once more, Hatter looked back to see the look of surprise on her face, so he plowed on, "You already said he's a good kid and I know you got on well while I was out scouting the area. He was telling me about what you showed him, yeah? On the ride here, you said you'd help us get settled. All I'm asking is you just help him instead. I can't just leave him to sit in the Great Library with all those other refugees-"
"Oh yeah, cause they seem very trustworthy," she sarcastically interjected, "Not to mention he'd probably sneak out and chase you down if you did."
Hatter smiled briefly, "Yeah, he probably would."
"That's all supposing that Dodo would even let you keep him there," Alice added and crossed her arms in front of her, "You said it yourself, both the Resistance and the Suits are after you. How do you plan on getting them to take you back in?"
Hatter glanced at her before playing with his hat again, "I figure once I show up with the ring… they'll have to take me back." Alice's stony faced reply quickly let him know that was the wrong answer. "I'd make sure you and Harry travel through the Looking Glass first. I'm not backing out of that-"
"And what about Jack?!" she interrupted him again; furious at his continued dismissal of an innocent man. "You said you would help me get him out!"
He glared across the fire at her as he stood up. "Alice, you have got to be realistic and forget about Jack! Trying to rescue him from the casino is suicidal, and it will only set off alarm bells. It'll make your escape impossible even if you did find him. I don't know how many times I have to tell you this before you'll understand. It can't be done!"
She matched his look with a blazing gaze of her own, "And I don't know how many times I have to tell you that I'm not going to leave him here!" They continued to look at each other, both refusing to give ground. This was one of the things he admired and hated about her. That stubbornness to do what was right, or die trying. It was just like his little cousin's noble ambition, and Hatter wondered if he'd ever have someone like Alice willing to risk life and limb for him like she was for this Jack. He wasn't even sure they made them like her in Wonderland anymore after all the people he'd met.
Feeling the weight of his hopeless future fall upon him for the umpteenth time that day, his gazed softened and Alice finally looked away. "Jack's a lucky guy," he whispered to himself and Alice whipped her head back to look at him, still ready for a fight.
"What was that?" she tersely questioned.
Hatter just shook his head and sighed, "Nothing. We…we can argue about all this in the morning, yeah?" Not waiting for her response, he trudged off to find a comfortable bit of wall to sleep against near Charlie's log cabin style room.
Alice opened her eyes to stare at the thatched roof ceiling. She wasn't sure how long she'd been trying to sleep, but it felt like hours. There was just too much on her mind to turn it off tonight, and she sighed as she sat up on the bed. A glance at the floor showed Harry was curled up under a blanket, and that Hatter had slipped his rolled up jacket under the boy's head for a pillow at some point. Her heart clenched at the thought of splitting the two of them up like Hatter was asking of her. They clearly cared for each other, no matter how much they teased and taunted one another. Could she break up a family like that? Would it be worse to know your family had given you up to be safe than to just straight up and leave them? Part of her liked to think so, but her conscious didn't want to be convinced. She knew what losing a parent could do to a ten year old child. Would losing losing the only family you had left in the world be any better?
She stood and walked out the open sliding wooden door, and she wrapped the purple jacket around her. The man who had loaned it to her was fast asleep; propped up against the wall and the pieces of wood that jutted out from the structure with his hat resting on his knee. Hatter confused her on so many levels. She'd presumed he was just a greedy conman shortly after their introduction. Having seen her fair share on the streets of New York for so many years, it was easy to spot one.
Then…it was the little things he did. Helping her with her fear of heights to get through the city, talking to her about his devotion to family and the Resistance's goal of a free Wonderland. Even when she'd thought he'd taken a bullet to the chest, he'd done so to help and protect her. Who did things like that? The more time she spent with him, the more she found herself enjoying his company and it bothered her. She was supposed to be with Jack…sort of. Okay, so she may have broken things off with him just before ending up in this mess, but it still felt like she shouldn't find his smiles and flirtatious comments so enjoyable so soon.
Besides, it could all be an act; she tried to reason with herself. Something to get her to give him the ring but… no, she knew that wasn't right. Actions spoke louder than words for Alice and despite her first impression, all the other events today were telling her he truly wanted to help her; even though that didn't include helping Jack as well.
Alice made up her mind suddenly and walked over to one of Charlie's ladders that was propped up against a tree. She could help everyone, and get home safely. Those Suits had to still be chasing them out in the forest somewhere. She'd get them to take her captive, and meet the Queen. Alice knew people in power always thought they were better than everyone else, and she was prepared to deal with her; no matter how crazy her reputation claimed she was. Knowing this, she would bargain for the release of Jack. She'd tell them the location of the ring, make her escape with Jack, and get back through the Looking Glass somehow on her own. This was her mess, her mistake, and she'd fix it on her own too. No need to have another family spilt up if she could do something to prevent it.
She took off the deep purple jacket and hung it from one of the rungs at arm level. It would be clearly visible here and, like Hatter had said, the only belongings they had left where the ones they current had. Alice obviously couldn't risk bringing the ring with her though and slipped it off her finger. In case she failed like they kept telling her, she wanted Hatter and Harry to be able to find it easily. If this silly little thing could help bring them a better Wonderland somehow, it was selfish of her to not try and help them too. Not after all they'd done for her. If everything went according to plan, she would be returning here with Jack and getting Hatter to help her reach the Looking Glass back in the city anyhow. Alice sighed. She just kept asking so much of that man didn't she?
With her mind made up, Alice placed the ring in the inside hidden jacket pocket she'd discovered while riding on the horse earlier, and zipped it closed. It would be safer here than any other place she could think to leave it, and still be found by the right people. It wasn't perfect, but that seemed to be asking for too much after what she'd experienced in the last two days.
"Are you sure you should be doing that?"
Alice spun around and instinctively went into a defensive stance. Casting her eyes about, she looked for the source of the voice. Hatter was still sound asleep, but the voice hadn't sounded like any the people she was traveling with at any rate. "Who said that?" she whispered harshly into the night.
"I did. And you'd have found me already if you had been looking properly," the voice mocked her now, but she'd been able to get a better direction of where it was coming from and looked toward the ground on her right. Sitting some five feet from her on the ground was a cat the size of a Labrador with purple stripes. Oh Hell. She'd met the real Mad Hatter, did she have to meet another fictional character come to life?
"Are you the Cheshire Cat?" she asked slightly wide eyed, but had relaxed her judo stance. Somehow she didn't think it would do her any good in this situation.
"Indeed I am, Alice Hamilton," it grinned at her then; all pointed teeth and a smile too large for its face. She'd never longed to see the Disney cartoon so much in her life. "Are you going to answer my question now?"
Alice glanced at the jacket abruptly, suddenly uncertain of her plan, but promptly shook the idea from her mind. No, she'd made her decision and she would commit to it. "Yes. Yes, I positive," she finally answered.
The cat made a contemplative noise while it tilted its head to look at her, "Only fools are positive you know. But, in a world filled with them, I suppose it is only fitting that you be positive, yourself." Alice furrowed her brow in confusion; unsure if the cat was insulting her or not. It suddenly arched its back in a stretch before standing on all fours. "Will you walk with me Alice?"
Knowing it might be dangerous either way; Alice decided to at least stick to her guns and shook her head. "No, I have to find the casino and meet the Queen."
"Do you know where you are going to find it?" the Cheshire Cat calmly questioned.
She was silent for a moment as she considered this. All Alice really knew was that the Suits were out there somewhere, possibly the direction she'd come. It was no guarantee where she'd run into them though. "No," she finally admitted, "Not really."
The cat grinned his creepy smile at her once more. "Then it doesn't matter where you go. Not really." It then turned and walked off into the woods. Alice only fidgeted in place for a moment before following after it. It couldn't possibly be any worse than getting lost in the woods, and just leaving the camp put her at risk for that. There had been a reason she'd quit girl scouts after fourth grade, and it hadn't been wearing the ugly uniform.
It took a little more than a couple seconds of jogging to catch up with the Cheshire Cat, when surprisingly it started leaping ahead at moments. If it started to disappear on her she was going to give it a friendly New York salute and get lost on her own thanks. Finally it came to rest outside of an extremely tall tree stump; though stump wasn't the best word for it really. It looked more like half of the tree had just decided to snap off randomly and start all over, as tiny branches had sprouted from the massive trunk.
"You brought me out here to see this?" Alice huffed.
"Yes," it replied, "There is something in here that you need to experience and understand. I'm afraid you'll never move forward without doing so." Alice was about to make a sarcastic reply before she saw light out of the corner of her eye. Turning to the right, there was now a door a swung open where there definitely hadn't been before to reveal a hallway that looked distantly familiar. She glanced at the cat -who stared right back her- before looking back at the door. Curiosity getting the better of her, she walked into the tree to look at the room within it.
No sooner had she stepped fully inside, Alice instantly knew where she was. This was her home. Her old home, before her father had left her. As she slowly walked further inside, she could see that everything was just as it had been that day as well; right down the photos on the wall the rip in the rug she'd made with her toys. A creaking sound came from behind her and Alice spun back around to see the door was closing. She quickly tried to grab it. She didn't want to be stuck here. Not this place filled with so much pain and heartache. It was closing too fast though. All she could do was watch as the Cheshire Cat looked back at her from the forest with a smile on it's face. "Curiouser, and curiouser," it spoke just before the door shut fully, and disappeared into the wall.
Posted March 9, 2010Edited June 8, 2014
