Mad World
Chapter 9
Queen Mirana of Underland hummed delightedly to herself. She was surrounded by some of her favorite people and creatures in the world and she had gotten the ball rolling in order to get her other favorite people together.
The Queen smiled brightly. The Hatter and Alice would make a marvelous couple. And, in time, marvelous parents. Their children would be the most revered in Underland because they would be the best of both lands. Could any pairing be better? Children of the Champion of Underland and the bravest hatter in any world. Besides, Mirana felt she owed to the Hatter ever since Horunvendush Day when his entire family was murdered by her horrible sister.
The Queen continued to smile.
"Don't you think Alice and our Hatter would make the most wonderful couple?" she asked McTwisp.
The White Rabbit flipped his pocket watch closed and tucked it in his waistcoat pocket.
"Couple?" the White Rabbit asked.
"Yes. A couple. Perhaps husband and wife?" the Queen said.
The Tweedles, who had been chattering quietly to themselves, stopped and looked at her with confused expressions.
"Do you all not like the idea?" the Queen said.
Chessur grinned after reappearing on the other side of the carriage.
"I think it's a wonderful idea, your majesty," he purred. "And I don't think you'll have to work very hard at it."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I believe the spark of romance has already been ignited between our Hatter and Alice," Chessur replied.
"That is wonderful news."
"I just hope Mallymkun hasn't gotten jealous of Alice again and stuck her with another hat pin," the White Rabbit fretted.
"Mallymkun does love the Hatter, doesn't she?" the Queen asked.
The Tweedles and Chessur nodded.
"Perhaps, then, what we must do is, after the Hatter and Alice are properly betrothed of course, is to find someone for Mallymkun," the Queen thought out-loud. "That way she wouldn't be sad. I don't like it when you all are sad."
Chessur grinned maniacally. It was going to be rough trying to keep this particular secret.
In the other carriage, things were not as lively as they were in the Queen's. Mallymkun fell asleep, as she frequently did and the March Hare also decided it was time for a nap. He was slumped over, drooling on the side of the carriage with Mally leaning on him.
"Looks like they're really out," Alice said, trying to make some sort of conversation.
"Indeed," the Hatter replied.
It was quiet for a few more beats. The two of them listening to the quiet snoring of the Hare and the Dormouse and the clatter of the horse's hooves as they pulled the carriages along.
"Hatter, I've got a riddle for you."
The Hatter's eyes brightened and he smiled at her. "Really?"
"I wouldn't lie to you about riddles."
"Well, whenever it suits you, I would be delighted to hear it," he said.
"All right, here it goes: What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?"
The Hatter sat in contemplative silence. He loved riddles. He wanted to guess this right and impress Alice. He didn't understand the feeling, but he just wanted to prove that he could guess this particular riddle.
"Is it the letter M?" he asked.
"It is!" Alice laughed.
"I'm always pondering things that begin with the letter M," the Hatter said.
"That's why I thought it would be the perfect riddle for you," Alice replied.
"You know me so well," the Hatter said.
"Hatter?" Alice began.
"Yes, Alice?" he said, still grinning.
"I'm terribly sorry for making you angry earlier today," she said.
"When was I angry this morning?" he asked.
"Well, not to re-open a wound here, but I accidentally wandered into your sewing room," Alice explained. "I don't ever want to make you angry like that, Tarrant. Especially since you worked so hard to save my life."
The Hatter sat quiet for a moment. He didn't really remember being angry this morning. It was a product of the mercury poisoning from the hat-making; sometimes he just couldn't completely control the madness. Should he tell her that? He thought he would.
"Sometimes I can't control my emotions completely," the Hatter said. "I am not always aware of what I am saying," he said.
Alice nodded. She understood what he was saying.
"I guess that makes me completely bonkers, doesn't it?" he said. "But someone wise once told me that all the best people are," he finished, smiling widely at her.
At that very moment, the atmosphere changed in the carriage. Alice and the Hatter didn't quite understand it, but they were thoroughly enjoying the feeling it was giving them.
They continued to chat about seemingly nothing as their carriage followed behind the Queen's. Their next stop would be Marmoreal. And perhaps there, someone could explain the feelings they were having.
A/N: Okay, there was my Friday night update. I have to go to work, so it's a little shorter than normal, but I do hope you all review. I love reviews and I would love to be able to check periodically that there were a couple more.
Thanks!
