AN: Let me begin by saying how truly awesome all of my reviewers have been! I believe the count is up to 42 now :) I would mention you all personally, but that would make for an author's note a mile long (and that's a good thing). So instead, I will list off all of the lovely people who reviewed the last chapter. Thanks goes to: Berenice63, FinalFallenFantasy, darkbangle, featherdusterpixie, Julie Christine Sparrow, sailormoon456, the-ice-cold-alchemist, sweetandlow1012, TheSwannsSparrow, AdriRin, Jasper's Future Wife, KThxBai, CameoRuby, meta sythe, Anastaia Snape and The Witch of the Souls.
Thanks to all who have been with this story since it started, and a hearty welcome goes to the new readers!! All of your feedback has made me so happy. I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations (it's one of my favourites). Let's see if we can make the review count hit 60, hm?
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Credit goes to Tim Burton and Lewis Carroll.
Now, on with the show!
Who's to say
What's impossible
Well they forgot
This world keeps spinning
And with each new day
I can feel a change in everything
And as the surface breaks reflections fade
But in some ways they remain the same
And as my mind begins to spread its wings
There's no stopping curiosity
- Jack Johnson, Upside Down
Alice was struck absolutely speechless.
She stood in front of the Mad Hatter himself and she had no idea what to say. It wasn't as if her mouth was working properly anyway; it seemed to be once again disconnected from her brain. She didn't appear to be the only one mixed up at the moment. The entire crowd of people on the Ascots' lawn had grown silent at the sudden appearance of a man who had not been invited to the rather private dinner party. Some stared openly at him while others covered their mouths to hide their shock. Even though they did not know who the strange-looking man was, they could see that he knew who Alice was.
And that certainly was odd. Alice had rejected any and all suitors that her mother sent for, so how a man who looked completely unrelated to her knew her that well was a marvel. The only man she ever associated with was her employer, who looked like a fish out of water at the moment.
Lord Ascot was the first to recover from his shock. He walked up beside the still-silent Alice and placed one hand on her shoulder. She didn't stir from her reverie, though. Her eyes were still glued on the man in front of her. The Lord looked over the man who had addressed Alice like an old friend. Then again…but no, it couldn't be that man. Could it?
"Excuse me, sir. But would you mind telling me how in the world you got into this party?" he didn't want to offend the man, but he was still uncertain as to how he got there.
"Oh, I'm awfully sorry about interrupting this…party," Tarrant looked around the crowd of half-fainting ladies and appalled gentlemen. This was certainly the dullest party he had ever seen. Why was no one dancing or singing and where in the world was the tea and music? He re-focused to the man in front of him, who still had a hand laid gently on Alice's shoulder. He seemed protective of her, but as he knew her father was no longer alive, he had no idea who the man was. An uncle, maybe? "But, you see, I simply had to see Alice. There's a rather pressing matter right now that requires her utmost attention, which she can't give if she's here. So I'll need to borrow her, if you don't mind."
"Borrow her?" a woman's voice piped up before Lord Ascot could get a word in. Helen Kingsleigh pushed her way through the stunned crowd to the clearing that had been made by people backing away from the newcomer.
Alice thought for a moment that she was quite lucky Margaret and Lowell hadn't been able to make it to the party. It was enough to try and convince her mother that the Hatter wasn't that mad; her sister and her husband would have been a completely different matter.
"And just who do you think you are? You can't come barging in on private dinner parties and just ask to take my daughter with you!" Helen looked positively scandalized.
"Actually, he can," Alice stated rather matter-of-factly. Lord Ascot's hand on her shoulder had finally managed to jolt her from her prolonged stare at Hatter and now she turned to face her irate mother. Lord Ascot stepped back from her, but not out of fear. If Alice had looked, she would have seen a mischievous gleam in his eye that meant he was going to enjoy what happened next.
Helen seemed to twitch slightly as her daughter openly defied her. "What is the meaning of this impudence, young lady? I shall not allow you to go with this, this ruffian!"
"Mother," Alice said as quietly as she could. She could let the Hatter speak for himself, but he seemed to be letting her take the reins for the moment. "I am no longer a child; I will be twenty-three next month. I am an independent woman capable of making decisions for myself. And my decision is to go with this ruffian, whether you approve of it or not." She turned from her spluttering mother to her employer.
Lord Ascot smiled at her knowingly, glancing back at the Hatter before looking back at her. "I take it this is the man you were telling me about?"
Alice grinned shyly back at him. "Yes, this is he." She stepped back to allow the two men to face one another. "Lord Ascot, this is-"
"Tarrant Hightopp," the Underlandian said, reaching across to shake the Lord's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. I can see that you care for Alice and I tip my hat to you for keeping her safe all this time." He stopped shaking Lord Ascot's hand to reach back and actually touch the brim of his top hat.
"And the thanks goes to you as well, ma'am," He acknowledged Helen, who had frozen in place at Alice's rebuke. She now regarded the man with wavering shock. "Being her mother, I can see that you took mind to how your daughter was raised, and I'm sure you're proud of her. Because if you weren't, then I have no idea who would be. If someone's mother isn't content with the way their children have lived their lives, then it is a very sad life indeed, and I cannot fathom-"
"Hatter," Alice mumbled, keeping a smile in place. It wouldn't do for him to lose it here, of all places. Everyone was already shocked enough by this newcomer, and they didn't need to know he was mad to boot.
"I'm fine," he croaked. He cleared his throat quietly, the hint of orange gone from his eyes.
"Mother," Alice said, backing up to stand beside Tarrant. "I have every intention of going with this man, and all I want is for you to be happy for me. I know I've been a troublesome child, but I promise I won't bother you anymore." She now realized where she belonged, and that wasn't in England. All of the rules, the etiquette, everything made her miss Underland even more. Standing now with Tarrant at her side just felt so…right. As if all the world fell into place with that one simple action.
"But…Alice…" her mother spluttered. She seemed less in shock now, at least enough to regain the use of her voice. "I don't understand."
"Yes Alice, do explain," Faith or Fiona Chataway said rather petulantly. They had finally rid themselves of their laryngitis and chose this moment to speak up. They still looked shell-shocked at the Hatter, but that didn't stop them from interjecting.
"Faith, Fiona," Alice said with a hint of a smile on her face. They did ever so remind her of the Tweedles at that moment. Apparently Hatter thought so too, for he stirred from beside her and began to speak.
"You know, you two remind me of a couple of very dear friends of mine. Well, not so much friends as boys because, you see, they both wear matching clothes, much like you do. But they're much more, well, muchier than you two. You seem rather dull under that bright exterior-"
Before Alice could intervene, one of the sisters that weren't too shocked at this statement opened her mouth to speak.
"How dare you! Our clothes aren't that bright compared to yours!" Faith pointed an accusing finger in Hatter's direction.
Alice looked between the three of them and had to concede that the sisters were right. The Hatter stood out like a…well, like a madman amongst English propriety. And that was putting it lightly: Tarrant hadn't changed his outfit at all for the trip to the Otherworld. His clothes shone with an almost unearthly brightness and Alice somehow knew that she would never be able to find fabric that vivid there in England.
"Hatter," Alice said softly as he was undoubtedly about to give the Chataways a lengthy lecture on fabrics. Tarrant closed his mouth and turned his brilliant green eyes on her. She smiled at him before turning back to Faith and Fiona.
"You're right, you know. His clothes are brighter than yours. Much brighter. And correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm not the one who has some explaining to do," Alice quirked her eyebrows at the sisters.
Faith and Fiona immediately flushed at that comment and they widened their eyes in utter embarrassment. They had hoped Alice had forgotten that encounter they'd had in the alley by the bakery a few weeks ago. However, it would take more than mere time for the young Champion to erase from her mind the sight of the twins as they were hiding in the alley, kissing the local butcher's sons. It was a chance encounter to be sure, but it wasn't one Alice was apt to forget.
And that way, she could keep the sisters in check. After all, they were to be married off soon at their mother's will. If she were to find out about that incident, well…There was no telling how she would react, much less what everyone else would think of her daughters' indiscretions.
As the Chataways were thoroughly tongue-tied by now, they faded into the background of people as Helen Kingsleigh found her voice again. "Alice? I still don't…I mean, how could you…?"
Her daughter smiled in a rather melancholy way. She knew what she had to say, but the knowledge that it would hurt her mother held her back slightly. As if channelling her thoughts, Tarrant smiled his gap-toothed smile at her, silently giving her courage for the impossible.
"Only if you believe it is."
With that thought secured around her like a comforting blanket, Alice finally spoke. "Mother, I've always felt out of place here and you know it. I'm more like Father than you like to think. For some months now I've been planning my leave. I've even been transferring my money from the bank to you to make sure you don't become ruined. And with Lord Ascot's permission I will have him put my position in the company up for offer. That is, unless you still need me that badly?" Alice looked over at her employer.
Lord Ascot grinned widely, looking between her and Tarrant. "My dear, I couldn't stop you if I tried. You've always been headstrong that way."
Hatter, sensing the conversation was over, gently grabbed Alice's hand in his. "Well, we really must be going. It's been a pleasure meeting you all." He doffed his hat to the still-shocked crowd and began to turn away.
"Wait!" Helen Kingsleigh called out.
Tarrant paused mid-step, looking back at Alice's mother. The younger Kingsleigh woman also perked up from where she stood. What on earth Helen wanted to say was completely beyond her at this point.
"Whether you plan to marry my daughter or not," she said, seeming to come to terms with the strange man she had just met. "Will you promise me that you'll take care of her?"
Alice was dumbstruck. Anger, shock or outrage she had expected. She hadn't readied herself for this resignation that Helen now spoke with. It was unthinkable, unfathomable, un-
Tarrant beamed from where he stood. "My dear woman, I will make sure that your daughter will come to no harm while she is with me. I would never, ever, forgive myself if that should happen." He squeezed Alice's hand as if to confirm what he just said.
Helen looked infinitely relieved and nodded her head, seeming to accept Hatter's words as truth.
With that Tarrant and Alice slowly turned their backs on the English nobles and well-wishers and exited the party as quickly as possible. Alice was still numb to everything that was happening, from Tarrant's appearance to the life she had just walked away from. If this was all a dream…but it couldn't be, she decided. The Hatter's hand was too real in hers; she could feel the bandages that were wrapped around it as well as the thimbles placed on the tips of his fingers. There was no way she could dream this up; it was too bizarre, even by Underland's standards.
"What was that all about, my dear?" Lady Ascot asked her husband, having finally surfaced from greeting every person that had shown up at the party. She gazed out at the Hatter and Alice as they made their way from the party. "And who exactly was that rather bizarre man? I don't recall inviting anyone like him to our son's party."
"That is my future son-in-law, if I'm not mistaken," Helen said breathlessly. How could she have been so blind before? She had set all of the seemingly perfect suitors after Alice, but instead she chose to run off with a man that seemed touched in the head. However senseless it seemed to everyone else, it was perfectly simple to Helen. Alice was right; there was indeed more of her father in her than she cared to acknowledge.
"Your…future…?" Lady Ascot spluttered. "You can't be serious, Helen! What of the repercussions? What will your other daughter and her family think? What will everyone think? Can you not see the sheer scandal that this is putting you in?"
Helen barely concealed a sigh. Alice's disposition must be rubbing off on her because she suddenly found that she couldn't stand what Lord Ascot's wife was saying. Shooting her a mild glare and mentally preparing herself for the condemning words she was about to stutter out, Helen gathered the courage to speak her mind.
"Lady Ascot, I have never been more serious about anything in my life. Alice is my daughter, and while some of her actions have been questionable, she is still dear to me. I'm sure Margaret will come to support her sister eventually and to be quite honest it doesn't matter to me one whit what other people say about Alice's decision. I am her mother and I will stand by her, no matter what other people such as you think."
There it was. A verbal gunshot had just exploded in Lady Ascot's face and she had no idea how to react to it. Several expressions flitted across her face but it was outrage that decided to settle on it.
"Such radical thinking, Helen! You could be carted off for saying such things," Lady Ascot growled out, trying to keep her voice calm and controlled. Her husband on the other hand…Well, he was chuckling quietly to himself, having enjoyed this conversation thus far.
"Speaking of being carted off…" Helen turned away from the Ascots. "I'd better go and see where Imogene has wandered off to. No doubt she's still searching for that nonexistent prince. It was good talking to you both." With that she wove away through the crowd and was lost from sight.
"Mad, the lot of them," Lady Ascot muttered. "Each and every Kingsleigh is doomed to insanity."
"Oh, I don't think they're mad, dear," Lord Ascot said, still chuckling slightly. "I think they're the most brilliant of people."
Ignoring the glare his wife was now giving him, Lord Ascot walked away to make small talk with one of the nobles that were scattered around the garden. Grinding her teeth together, Lady Ascot too began to walk back to her crowd of guests. The Chataways had since vanished from sight, undoubtedly from their mother ushering them back home threatening to find out the meaning of what Alice said.
Just as Lady Ascot was about to strike up a conversation with a rather promising older couple her son appeared in front of her. He gave her a rather confused look as his fiancé trailed behind him demurely.
"Mother, who on earth was that man with Miss Kingsleigh?"
"This is impossible," Alice murmured, echoing the words she had whispered to the very man she was walking beside as they readied themselves for battle not two years ago. None of this could possible be happening, but a familiar tug in her gut told her otherwise. She was with the Hatter. The Hatter was with her.
And they were going back to Underland.
"Only if you believe it is," Hatter replied, flashing a grin as they walked across the gravel drive and over to the carriages. The night sky lit their path and the moon shone brightly.
"But how, Hatter? How did you get here? The rabbit hole is blocked-"
"The rabbit hole is not the only way to get to Underland," Tarrant said, flagging down one of the carriage drivers, who hopped to attention. "There is a mirror in your room that is part of the looking glass. Nivens has used that for quite some time to travel back and forth from this world to Underland. And might I say this world is a great deal drabber than I first thought. Your parties aren't real parties at all; there's no tea, no music, no dancing, no-"
"Hatter," Alice said, breaking his tirade.
"Right, sorry," he apologized. "But that is how I came here, and I needed to fetch you. Or rather, the White Queen needed to fetch you. There's been a, well, development in Underland."
He stopped talking as the carriage driver ushered them into one of the wooden coaches. Alice told the driver they needed to return to the Kingsleigh estate and with a nod of his head the man ran off to the front of the coach. When Alice and Hatter had been properly situated, the carriage jerked to a start and began the long trek back to Alice's home.
"Hatter?" Alice ventured after he had been silent for awhile. "What has happened in Underland?" She was sure that since the White Queen had taken power, things in Underland should have returned to normal. Unless the Red Queen had escaped, but Hatter would have been much more on edge had that occurred. When he didn't respond, Alice tried something else. "…Tarrant?"
He seemed to snap out of a trance and he glanced across at her in fear. "I…I don't know, Alice. The White Queen said not to-" he didn't want to worry Alice, not once he had just found her again after two long and painful years. He wanted them to be happy right now, not worrying over something like this. Why couldn't she just wait until they returned to Underland? But he realized that was a hopeless fancy: Alice was too curious for her own good.
"Tarrant," Alice reached across to place a hand on his knee. He twitched at this motion, glancing at her with wide eyes. "Please, Tarrant. I must know."
Blast it all, he was never one to say no to her. How could he, when she was imploring him like that? It wasn't fair, what she was doing. Before his muddled mind could catch up with his mouth, he uttered the words that the White Queen had sworn him to keep secret until Alice was safe and sound in Marmoreal. His thick Outlandish brogue echoed in the carriage.
"It's the bloody Knave o' Hearts. He escaped 'is exile in the Outlands an' has now set out to destroy the Queen an' all she 'olds dear."
AN: The plot thickens? I hope everyone's reactions to the Hatter were what you wanted. It was a shame that Lowell wasn't there. Now that would have been fun. And don't worry, you'll find out exactly how Tarrant got to the Otherworld. It'll make sense soon enough.
Oh, by the way, when I see that I have 60 (or more) reviews for this story, I'll update! How does that sound?
Read and review, people. But you already knew that, didn't you? :D
