(Hey guys! Im sorry if this chapter sucks XD I've been having a bit of writers block but the next chapter I'll try to make up for it :3 thanks for reading!)

Alice opened her eyes and looked out the window. It was still dark out, and the stars twinkled in the night sky. She turned her shoulder slightly and saw that Tarrant was still sleeping beside her. Alice looked at his face and, in spite of the ominous feeling this morning brought to her, she smiled. He looked so calm, so... serene. It calmed her heart a little to see him sleeping there beside her. Deep down she wished that it didn't have to change, that she didn't have to get up and go to war. She laid her head back on the pillow, and had just started musing about married life with Tarrant when suddenly, Lindall burst through the door.

"Wakey wakey!"

Alice sat up in bed and covered herself. "What are you doing!?" She slightly glared at the red haired man, signaling that he should either leave, or cover his eyes.

He chuckled and turned his back to her so she would have some privacy. "Lord Gringall wishes you to breakfast. She let you sleep in longer than any of us. A good breakfast makes for a happy belly, as she always says."

Alice groaned and shook Tarrant. "Tarrant... we have a pest in the room. Please rid of him so I may be dressed."

Tarrant woke up, his sleepy eyes looking towards the figure that stood with at the end of the bed. "Oh, ye think you could come in here and spy on me Alice eh? I knew you were a pervy sort but never did I think ye would go this far."Tarrant sat up, grabbing the sword that laid beside the bed, and with all his naked glory, charged towards Lindall. Lindall merely laughed as he ran out the door closing it behind him. Tarrant turned to look at Alice, who was in hysterics laughing on the bed.

"Oh god Tarrant! I didn't think you'd do that!"

Tarrant turned towards her with a cheeky half smirk. "Why Alice, I'd never let anyone get a peep at me girl." He crawled into bed and pulled her close. "You're mine Alice, and I couldn't be happier."

Alice had noticed a change in Tarrant. He had grown more open, and a little less insane. However, he would always be her Hatter. The Hatter she had met when she came down to Underland. The Hatter she loved.

"And you're mine. However, I do believe we should get up. I fear that Gringall would send more "messengers" if we do not get up soon."

(A while later at breakfast)

Gringall was already sitting at the breakfast table with the other three Lords when Alice and Tarrant walked in.

"Good morning." Alice greeted at she sat at the head of the table. Tarrant followed, sitting on her left.

"Good morning your highness." responded the other Lords.

Alice looked over the plans for the days movement while the others sat and ate in silence. It was a comfortable silence. That is, until Gringall spoke up.

"I heard you had in intruder in your bedroom this morning."

Alice looked up and noticed Gringall's eyes sparkled much like Lindall's.

"Yes we did. He was acting on YOUR orders." Alice looked at her steadily as if she was awaiting an explanation.

Gringall laughed slightly and threw berries at Lindall. "I told the git to knock on the door! Not to go in!"

Alice looked at Lindall, shocked but amused in spite of herself. "Excuse me?"

Lindall winked at her. "How could I resist the chance to see a beauty such as yourself?"

Alice noticed Tarrants grip on the table increase, although his smile never disappeared. "Well, you shall have to resist. As you can see," she said holding her hand out for all to see. "I am engaged." Gasps from all four Lords were heard as they looked at her and then Tarrant.

Lord Meerrywraith was the first to comment, having said nothing at all so far, this came as quite a shock. "Congratulations Miss Alice." he said smiling. His eyes shined with acceptance. "This is the kind of change we need. The kind of good news that could give the people hope. Although I'm sure you two had different reasons than the ones I'm suggesting, I'm glad you two are getting married. Why, my own daughter would have loved to meet you."

Charles looked at them, and he smiled as well. "I happen to agree with them. In these times, it's so rare to see two people, let alone young people, completely and utterly in love. I'm proud of you two."

Alice blushed at the generous comments as she took Tarrants hand.

"So," started Lindall. "How did he propose?"

Both Tarrant and Alice blushed. "Well, I... actuallyproposedtohim."

All of them blinked and stared at her. "Come again?" asked Gringall.

"I.. proposed to him." Again, for wouldn't be the last time, the Lords stared at Alice before Gringall burst into laughter. "Oh my dear... that's wonderful! It's certainly different!"

Alice blushed and laughed with them. Until now, she had never really thought about the hilarity of the situation. It was probably the first time in all of Underlands history that a woman, nay a Queen, proposed to a man. Alice looked at the Lords who sat around the table, studying each of them, she decided she liked them. They seemed very lovely, and down to Earth, even though they most likely caused a bit of trouble. Whatever the case may be, Alice was happy to have them with her.

(The Enchanted Forest)

Elwood marched down the line of soldiers he commanded. It would take a few days to reach the palace, but he was ready.

"Today is the day we march. Today is the day our journey begins. We can use their stupidity to help us." Alice had a measly few hundred soldiers, he had a thousand troops. He would win this. "Let me tell you something. IF any of you betray us. IF any you betray me, I WILL find you. I WILL kill you." They all stared at him, no one daring to move. "Right now, they are in their cozy beds, dreaming about a day where WE don't exist. Are we going to let them?" He paused to stare into the eyes of his soldiers.

"I said, ARE WE GOING TO LET THEM?!"

"No sir!" They all shouted in unison.

"ARE WE GOING TO LET THEM BURY US BENEATH THEIR ROYAL WAYS?!"

"No sir!"

"ARE WE GOING TO STAND BY AND WATCH THEM RULE OUR LIVES!?"

"No sir!"

"WE ARE AT WAR WITH THEM! WILL WE DEFEAT THEM?!"

"Yes sir!"

He smirked and held Orillia's hand and he raised his sword. "LONG LIVE THE KING!"

"Long live the King! Long live the King! Long live the King!"

Elwood walked down the path that led out of the Enchanted Forest. "MOVE OUT!" Today was the beginning of his new life. Not as Lord Elwood, but as King Elwood. He would win the battle, he knew that much. After he had slain the Hatter, he would make Alice his. His and his alone. Elwood wanted Alice with a deep abiding passion. Deep down, he thought it was love.

Elwood had heard about Alice when he was younger, after all, rumors about a beautiful Upperlander, were sure to spread quite fast. However, although this played lightly on his mind, the thing that really caught him on to Alice's scent, was the fact that she had defeated the Jabberwocky. It was shocking to him that a girl so beautiful, a girl who looked so frail, would be able to defeat that monster. He longed to meet her, to be in her presence, to see her in person. Soon this infatuation grew to love. An innocent love that cleared his black heart. However, slowly, very slowly, this love was twisted by his greed and hatred into a possessive, dominant sort of love. Now he wants her, his love long forgotten as his black heart consumed him.

"I'm coming for you Alice."

(At the Palace)

Alice watched as her soldiers gathered outside the gates, their armor shining the morning light. Helmet's raised high, swords at their ready, they looked like the perfect armor. However, she knew what lurked beneath those steel eyes. She knew that their mouths were pulled into a grimace, and their eyes held fear in them. Alice sighed as she watched them march. She wished she didn't have to send them, she herself wished she didn't have to go, but she knew it was her duty to protect Mirwana and her people.

"Alice my love, come from the balcony. Looking at them is putting a furrow on your brow, and no soldier wants to see their commander looking worried." Tarrant said as he pulled up beside her, he himself in full armor.

"I know Tarrant. I know they don't want to see me worried, but how can I not be? I could be very well sending most of them to their death. We don't know how much power they have, for God sakes we don't even know where they are!"

Tarrant pulled her close, rubbing her back as he kissed her forehead. "Alice. You need to accept that some of them may die. You need to accept that it will happen. If you don't life will be very hard indeed. In fa-"

"Ah Alice~ mm just the person I was looking for~"

Alice turned and nodded her head to the Cheshire cat. "Hello Chess. Why were you looking for me?"

"The Lords are ready to go. It seems like the path to ruin or victory has begun hmm~? We shall see who comes out on top~"

Alice tilted her head and narrowed her eyes slightly. "Mhmm... well, I shall go see the Lords in a moments time. Thank you for bringing me the message."

The Cheshire cat lips pulled into a toothy grin before her evaporated, leaving nothing but a lingering sense of doubt in his wake that left Alice shuddering.

She looked at Tarrant, the only person she would ever show weakness to, and her eyes began to water. "What if we can't do it Tarrant? What if we don't survive?"

Tarrant gathered the fierce and yet, wonderfully fragile woman in his arms. "Alice. Nothing in the world can stop true love. I love you, as I'm sure you love me. Even if we don't survive, our love will."

"I don't want to lose my Hatter after just getting him!" Alice broke down in his arms. Her tears flowed like a fountain, as she shook and cried bitterly.

Tarrant shook his head and lifted her chin. "Alice, I am yours. Even in death you would not lose me. I am yours. I am Alice Kingsley and I am proud to say that. These people need you Alice. They need the strong, beautiful, fierce women I know is in there, to lead them. They're scared, worried, and tired. They have very little hope. They need my Alice. They need you."

She looked up, and with a defiant look, stood up and wiped her eyes. "You're right. They need the leader." Alice looked at Tarrant, and although the words didn't leave her mouth, he knew she was thankful.

(Later in the Hall)

"Alice!' shouted Lord Gringall. "Lovely you could join us, we were beginning to wonder where you were.

"I am very sorry for my tardiness. I was going over the battle plans once more. Where is the General?"

"Right here your Majesty." spoke the old man as he walked into the Hall. "I hand picked the best soldiers to escort you and the Lords on this voyage."

Alice shook her head. "No. I am walking at the front of the troop."

"Your Majesty, I highly obj-"

"NO!" Alice had had enough of the General imposing his ideas on her. These were her people. People who were willing to go to battle and die for her. She felt like she owed them more than just riding behind them. "Those are OUR men out there. OUR. Not just yours, but OURS. I may not know all of them, I may not know most of their names, but they are OUR men. If I die, I shall die beside them."

The General narrowed his eyes but nodded. "As you wish, your Majesty."

The Lords looked at her approvingly. "Hear, hear!" cried Gringall. "We shall ride up at the front as well then. We shall not be cowards while out men march bravely."

They nodded in agreement and with that, they walked out and joined the troops at the front. The General watched with a displeased expression that Alice was surprised to find herself reveling in. She loved how shocked and angry he looked, but she was pleased when the soldiers looked so relieved and surprised that she was up there with them. Underland had, had enough of their Kings and Queens standing behind while others died for their wars.

"Hello your Majesty."

Alice looked around and smiled when she recognized Eric among the troops. After all, he was shorter than everyone else.

"Hello Eric," she said as she smiled. "How are you today?"

"Well... in light of the circumstances, I am alright I suppose."

Alice was about to apologize when she noticed a small glimmer of humor behind his eyes.

She barely suppressed a smirk and fell in step beside him, Tarrant and the others riding ahead. "I suppose so. Today is a wondrous day for a battle is it not?"

"Well, as they say, war cannot be stopped, only fought by the blood and souls of the fallen."

Alice nodded. "Let's hope no bloodshed happens. I'm hoping to reason with Elwood."

"I think that would be best. We've had enough bloodshed in Underland don't you think?"

Alice sighed and looked at Eric, letting all the worry she had show. "I do think so."

Eric reached out and patted her shoulder. "Alice, all the men here trust you. We've seen the kind of leader you can be, and we all believe in you."

She smiled at him and patted his hand. "Thank you Eric."

(A few days later)

Alice woke up and opened her eyes, the smell of last nights fire still in her nose. Stretching, she got out of the tent and looked around. The troops were all sleeping, dawn had not yet arrived. For days now they had been walking, and still the Enchanted forest was a couple days away. Alice promised herself she would never, ever, take her bed for granted again. Alice heard Tarrant rustling in the tent and smiled. He's be up soon, and then they'd continue on their journey. In all honesty, if Tarrant hadn't been there, she didn't think she could have done this.

"Alice dear,"said Tarrant getting out of the tent. "You should go wash up by the stream if you need to before the other troops awaken."

Alice kissed his cheek and nodded. "You're right, I'll be back soon."

Walking down to the stream was quite peaceful. The tree's overhead were in full bloom, and the wind was quiet in the early morning. The little light coming from the East gave it a mystical feeling. She quite enjoyed it. And yet, even with this peace and quiet, a part of her felt like something was about to happen. She fought the urge to raise the signal though, thinking that the feeling as just about the upcoming war. Whatever happened, she didn't think it would be good.

When Alice got down to the water she stopped and just stared at it. The beauty of the water reached into her soul and made her breath stop. The slight moon shined on the water, and the small but of sunlight made it look as if the moon was rising above the sun. Suddenly, Alice heard cries coming from the camp, metal clanging and the sounding of alarms. Before Alice could turn around to run, she heard a voice behind her.

"Hello your Majesty."

Alice turned around to see a figure clad in black. His armor so dark, the light didn't even make it shine.

"What do you want?" Alice hoped he couldn't hear the small tremble in her voice, but when she heard him chuckle, she knew he had.

"We want you." Alice backed up, hearing Tarrant cry out for her.

"TARRA-"

Alice didn't get to finish, because at that moment, her world turned black.