Author's Note:
A little shorter then I meant to be. Chapter 10 coming up soon! Enjoy!
Chapter 9:
Alice and Tarrant stood holding each other in the White Queen's throne room until the sun began to set. Their friends had passed by on the way to dinner. Each waving and saying hello to the couple in turn. It
was quieter now but there was still the bustle of preparing for whatever would come next.
"I wish we could go home." Alice whispered into his chest. "I just want to be alone with you." She looked up at her Hatter. Tarrant leaned down to kiss her lightly.
"Follow me," He whispered taking her hand.
They walked together to where their rooms were. Tarrant opened the door to one of them and pulled Alice inside. There was a large four poster bed against one wall. A large opened French door lead out to the
balcony. There was a vanity and a large chaise against the wall opposite the bed. The door that lead to the adjoining room had been left opened. Tarrant lead Alice over to the chaise. He sat down and stretched
his legs out. Alice sat next to him and Tarrant pulled her into his arms. She stretched out as well. She rolled over to snuggle into his chest. Alice entangled her legs with Tarrant's.
"I'm frightened Tarrant. It's terrible to not see what's coming," Alice admitted.
She looked up him. Tarrant took her face in his hands. There was a look of fierce defiance on his face.
"I won't let anything hurt you Alice. I cannet allow it lass." Tarrant's eyes were heavily streaked with gold. He held her face firmly in his hands. "I will nea lose yea again." Tarrant whispered fiercely.
He pulled Alice up to him. His lips were on hers with the same desperation that Alice herself was feeling. Her lips were forceful against Tarrant's. She could feel them bruising but she would not stop kissing him.
She boldly swung one leg over Tarrant's waist to straddle him. His hands rested on her waist as Alice feasted on his lips. When oxygen became a problem Alice moved to kiss and nibble Tarrant's tightly corded
neck. Tarrant's hands came up her back making her shiver. There was a fire in her belly that Alice had never felt before. Love, passion, desire, fear all swirling with in her, fighting for control. Tarrant moaned when
Alice worried his ear lobe between her teeth. He flipped her underneath him. Alice looked up to see his green eyes glowing down at her. Something she had read once came to mind. Something Jules Verne had
written about the green flash that can occur over the water when the sun sets.
"...a green which no artist could ever obtain on his palette, a green of which neither the varied tints of vegetation nor the shades of the most limpid sea could ever produce the like! If there is a green in Paradise, it cannot be
but of this shade."
She loved this man with everything that she had, every ounce of her muchness belonged to him. There was such a green in Paradise but that Paradise existed only in the green of the eyes of a half mad hatter
who loved her. The ending of what Jules Verne came to back to her with a vengeance.
"which most surely is the true green of Hope."
For the first time since her dream of Stayne and learning of his escape Alice felt hope. She smiled suddenly feeling herself again.
"I love you Tarrant." She said pulling him down to her to kiss his lips.
No matter what they had to face Alice had her Hatter and Tarrant had his Absolutely Alice. Tarrant smiled into the kiss knowing that Alice was feeling strong. He was curious as to what had given her that hopefully
look, but if Alice felt better he felt better. Tarrant pulled back.
"I love you Alice. What were you thinking of?" He asked hovering above her.
"Hope, Tarrant. I know we can handle whatever Stayne throws at us." She smiled up at him. She yawned suddenly making Tarrant laugh.
"Alright Champion," Tarrant said standing up and pulling Alice to her feet.
She giggled and fell into his chest. Tarrant picked her up and threw Alice over one shoulder. He carried her over to the bed and dumped her on it unceremoniously. Tarrant pulled her boots off, throwing them to
one corner of the room. He removed his own boots and jacket and place his hat on one bed post. Tarrant climbed into the bed with Alice. He pulled the blankets over them and pulled Alice to his chest holding her
tightly. Alice cuddled close and shut her eyes. Her fingers wove into Tarrant's shirt. He rubbed her back gently soothing them both to sleep.
The happy couple was blissfully unaware that they were being watched from the balcony. Stayne smiled cruelly. All he had to do was kidnap either Alice herself or threaten The Hatter and the plan would be in
motion. By separating his two most formidable foes and taking The White Queens most powerful warriors success would surely be at hand. With one of them missing the other would come running and The White
Queens forces would be frantically searching for Alice and The Hatter. He would simply have to take the castle. His maniacal grin grew. Stayne watched Alice sleep before slipping back from whence he came. Alice
shivered in her sleep and curled up closer to Tarrant.