A/N: Oh my God, could it possibly be? It is possible that I have acheived the long awaited tenth chapter? Yes...yes it is. And I welcome all readers of every shape, size, gender, religion, etc. In this wonderful installment of LAEE, there will be backstories! Indeed, and secrets will be revealed and all sorts of other wonderful things going on that I can barely contain my joy! Now, I do hope everyone will enjoy the chapter and I shall hopefully see everyone at the ending author's notes.
Life After Everything Else
Chapter Ten: Tarrant's Story
Watching as darkness soon fell over Marmoreal, Tarrant stood beside his window, patiently waiting. The bright moon rose along with the increasing night, and he merely wished that it would be enough to light his way for the short journey ahead of him. Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he stepped up to the clear glass and opened it. Waiting until it was wide enough to fit himself through, he then quickly climbed out and held onto it from the otherside. Able to see his reflection in the glass, he noticed his green eyes turn dark and took another breath, trying to reassure himself before he slowly climbed away from the window and out onto the stone wall of the castle.
"You're doing great," he muttered, forcing his gaze to stay at the dull colored stone. His fingers grasped tightly onto the small cracks inbetween each brick and he prayed that he'd make it as he climbed northwest.
Though he was thankful that his room was only on the fourth floor of the large castle, Alice's was all the way at the sixth up high in one of the towers. Tarrant knew that Sapphira was most definately going to be guarding Alice, since her bedroom was merely down the hall from the girl's, but it made it even more difficult to sneak to her room on foot since the older woman's room was right beside the only door leading into the hallway where the two rooms lay. So, faced with no alternative option, Tarrant gathered all the courage and stupidity he could find in himself that led him up to the moment he was currently in: scaling the side of Marmoreal's castle in attempt to reach Alice's room.
And, at times, it even seemed like fate was against him. The wind constantly bit at his skin and he would occasionally loose his grip for a short moment due to the lack of places to hold onto. But despite the difficulties he soon found himself beside Alice's bedroom window and was about to climb inside when he heard Sapphira's ranting.
"Honestly, child, what were you thinking? If my mother had found me with a man, wearing next to nothing, she would've had my hid!"
"Well I'm old enough to make my own descisions, Sapphira. Besides, you were asked to be my escort, not my mother."
"Does it matter? True, Tarrant is a good man; he's helped Lady Mirana plenty of times during the Red Queen's regine of terror, but I see nothing but bads news with him when it comes to the both of you."
"We're not even like that Sapphira."
"That's not what I saw earlier today, Miss Alice."
A pause. Deafening silence as Tarrant waited to see if more would be passed on or if Sapphira would retire for the night.
"Well, I at least hope that you can contain your...passion for one night. If I catch you sneaking out of your room, it'll be more than a scoulding that you'll recieve," Sapphira warned before Tarrant could hear her fading footsteps and the sound of a door closing. Breathing a sigh of relief, he quickly moved onto the ledge of the window and knocked.
Watching as the heavy drapes were pulled back, he smiled warmly upon seeing Alice's grin. The younger woman quickly unfastened the knob holding the window close and stepped aside to allow Tarrant to enter. "Hello Alice. Surprised?" he asked as she threw herself in his arms, hugging him tightly.
"Very," she whispered, pulling away slightly so that she could look up at him. "But how did you manage to get in here like that?"
"Climbed the wall," he answered nonchalantly, acting as if it was the most obvious option in the world. Alice giggled quietly as she took his hand and led him over to her bed so that they were sitting down beside each other.
Tarrant stared in silence at her; he was so entranced by her simple beauty. Her face seemed to be glowing with happiness upon seeing him and he was unable to hold back his arm as it reached out and gently brushed back a stray golden curl away from her alabaster face. He found himself grinning back at her, gazing into her brown eyes as she did so as well with his green ones.
"You didn't have to come here," she muttered, leaning her head into his touch.
"I wanted to," Tarrant replied. If possible, her smile grew brighter as her hand reached up to grasp his that still rested on her cheek. Another silence passed with them just staring into each others eyes before Alice giggled again.
"Would you care to hear a riddle that I learned through Tweedledee?" she inquired. Nodding his head, Tarrant reluctantly pulled his hand away and placed it instead on the bed as Alie began. "John gave his brother James a box: about it there were many locks. James woke and said it gave him pain; so gave it back to John again. The box was not with lid supplied, yet caused two lids to open wide: and all these locks had never a key- what kind of box, then, could it be?" Alice asked.
"As curly-headed James was sleeping in bed, his brother John gave him a blow on the head; James opened his eyelids, and spying his brother, doubled his fist, and gave him another. This kind of box then is not so rare; the lids are the eyelids, the locks are the hair, and so every schoolboy can tell to his cost, the key to the tangles is constantly lost," he replied.
Her frown disappeared for a moment, clearly confused on how he knew the answer, before he couldn't hold back his laughter. "I was the one that told Tweedledee the riddle," he admitted. A silence passed, and Tarrant was about to say more before Alice took her pillow and playfully began hitting him with it.
"Tarrant that's not fair!" she exclaimed, trying to keep quiet as they both laughed. Attempting to stop the assault, he blindly reached out and managed to grab a hold of her wrists. Dropping the pillow, they instantly began wrestling for power over her wrists until they both collasped onto the bed, side by side as Alice continued giggling.
"Alice?" Sapphira's voice called out from behind the door. Smiling, Alice put her finger against her lips as they both continued listening. "Alice, what is going on in there?"
"Nothing, Sapphira," she called out. "I'm fine. I just remembered a good joke is all."
"Well could you please keep it down. God, it sounds like your running about with someone in there," Sapphira scolded before her footsteps retreated from the door. A paused passed between the two before they both errupted into fits of laughter. Managing to help her sit up, Tarrant smiled brightly at her as she reached out and touched his face.
"I'm glad you came," she whispered quietly, moving forward slightly so that she was close to him.
"As am I," he replied, closing his eyes briefly as he revealed in her touch. Opening his bright green eyes to look at her, he could tell something was troubling her as she touched his face. Then he remembered how weeks ago, though it seemed like ages, she had discovered how he hid his burns from everyone. His eyes saddening, he reached up and gently pulled her hand away, instead holding it in both of his as he sighed.
"You don't have to tell me," she consoled, glancing at the white paint that remained on her palm. Tarrant shook his head, lifting it to gaze at her. A silent understanding passed between them and Alice moved so that she was sitting beside him, her head resting on his shoulder. "I don't want to force you to do anything."
Tarrant stayed mute, wondering about whether he should tell her the story of his scars. It was difficult to talk about it, yes, but he felt that he could trust her with it.
"You've heard of Horunvendush Day, yes?"
"The day that the Red Queen took control over Underland?"
"That very day," he replied, wrapping his arm around her as he leaned against the backboard of the bed. "I have always worn paint, Alice, but more for fashion purposes than anything else."
"Like Iracebeth?" Alice inquired.
"Yes," he answered. "Now, when Horunvendush day came around, I was still working as Lady Mirana's hatter. I was with her and a handful of guards when we agreed to check on my home after Absolem discovered it's downfall."
"Then what...?"
"Then..." Tarrant paused, his eyes darkening to a deep red as he recalled what he had seen. "Then the worst thing happened..."
Tarrant walked beside Lady Mirana as she rode atop her white horse, both of them along with a few guards traveling deeper into the Tugley Woods. "I'm sure that we'll make it in time Tarrant," the White Queen assured as they traveled closer to the Hatter's old home. "By the time we get there, we'll have enough time to evacuate everyone, so please don't worry."
"I'm not," he lied as he continued following the chess escorts further. "Just..."
"Worried?" she offered.
"Yes..." he replied. Smiling, Lady Mirana rolled her eyes slightly as they approached an opening that led to the small clan village. Entering out into the daylight, Tarrant noticed that everyone was gathered around the Maypole in preparation for a birthday party. Smiling, he remembered that it was his younger sister's birthday today.
"Here comes the happy girl, Tarrant," Lady Mirana said. "Go and greet her; it's been ages since you've seen any of your family."
"I have a job to attend to, do I not?" he teased as he watched his younger sister come closer.
Without the paint, it would seem that she was the embodiment of her older brother. She had long, bright red curls that seemed untame and bright green eyes that shone with mischief. The young girl was small, today being her ten birthday, but what she lacked in size she more than made up for in intellect.
"Tarrant!" the child called out happily as she ran towards her older brother. Smiling, he bent down in time to catch her as she ran towards him. Hugging him tightly, she smiled brightly up at him. "What are you doing here? Mum said that you couldn't make it because of your job."
"I can't surprise my little Aline anymore?" he teased, kissing her forehead as he let go of her.
"Well I'm still glad your here!" Aline said. "See, Tarrant, I'm even wearing the dress you made for me!" she exclaimed proudly, quickly twirling around to show off the garment.
"And you're the prettist girl here," he said, hugging her again before she laughed and tried to push him away.
"Stop it, Tarrant!" she giggled. Grinning, he finally let her go a second time and watched as she performed a delicate curtsy to the White Queen. "Thank you for coming and bringing my brother home, Lady Mirana," she said. Smiling down at her, Lady Mirana gave a thank you before Aline excused herself and ran off into the gathering crowd.
"She seems very happy that you're here," Lady Mirana pointed out with some glee as Tarrant scanned the crowd for her. Nodding his head, he quickly became distracted again as he still gazed at the celebrating crowd. He was still uneasy about everything, and the Oraculum's prediction of his home being destroyed sent a chill running through his blood.
"Shouldn't we get about exvacuating everyone now?" he asked.
"Let them celebrate a while longer," she replied. "Nothing has gone wrong yet, and there is no sight of danger around. Allow them their freedom for but a short while, then we can help them away." But still, Tarrant was not pleased. Something was terribly wrong, though no one else seemed to notice. True, he couldn't put his finger on it either, but the air was too silent and the animals that inhabited the forest seemed deathly silent.
"I'm not sure about it a-" he suddenly stopped as both he and Lady Mirana noticed a terrifying creature in the sky. It was the Jabberwocky.
"Everyone needs to get out!" Tarrant shouted, but still no notice. Panic rose up in him as everyone seemed to not notice the monster and continue with their party. "Do you not understand? You all need to leave or you will die!"
Yet, no sooner had he said the words than a giant ball of fire fell down upon the village. Screams instantly rang out as houses and lands caught fire. The flames only seemed to grow faster as people tried gathering their families. The soldiers that had come with him and lady Mirana went into the blaze to see if anyone could be rescued but they soon disappeared from view.
"Aline!" he shouted. "Aline, where are you?"
"Tarrant!" the young girl shouted from the fire. Ignoring Lady Mirana's warnings, he instantly ran into the blaze in search of his sister.
He was instantly assaulted by the heat and smoke, which filled his lungs and licked at his skin. Coughing violently, he called out for his sister but he never heard a voice back. Stumbling through the fire, he continued looking for her as he passed people that were caught in the inferno. Some were crushed by falling timber, and others died of the suffocation from the smoke. It was a gruesome scene to glance at all the burning bodies and be forced to smell the stentch of burning flesh, but still he pressed on until he found his old home.
"Aline!" he shouted. A small sob was heard from inside the house and he was easily able to break down the burning down. Upon stepping inside, he saw his younger sister hiding herself in the corner of the room. Both of his parents were no where to be found. "Aline, it's okay," he said, running up to her and embracing her.
"T-Tarrant," she gasped. He held her close, praying that a miracle would somehow happen. It was more than clear that she too would go the way of the rest of the village from the way her strangle voice tried to speak.
"Don't talk," he order, feeling his own body start to fill with the deadly air. "I'm here now, it's okay," he muttered, trying to make her stop crying.
"I'm scared," she sobbed quietly, her small hand clutching tightly onto his shirt. "Why didn't we run away?"
"I don't know," he whispered, holding her close as he could hear her breaths getting more desparate.
"Don't...leave," Aline muttered.
"I'm not going to," he promised, carefully laying her down as he put his jacket over her trembling body, seeming oblivious to the chaos around him. "I'll be right here with you."
Nodding her head, Aline moved close to her brother as the fire slowly began to consume the roof and surrounding walls. Her sobs were beginning to quiet and her eyes were slowly closing as her coughs became more violent.
"Tarrant!" Lady Mirana called out. But still, the man didn't move as he tenderly held his dying sister. Though he could hear his name being desparately called out, he refused to move until she took her last breath.
"It turns out, during the time I was comforting Aline I had passed out from the smoke. When I had woken, I was on the outskirts of the village in incredible pain. I was told that I had suffered severe burns almost all over my body. When I asked for my sister, they told me that they already buried her along with any others that they found. I was the only person that managed to survive the fire out of my whole clan..." Tarrant whispered quietly, finally reaching the painful end to his story.
During the whole telling, Alice had gazed up with immense sadness as she listened to the story. She felt his pain, and understood why he hardly went anywhere without the paint. The burns would simply remind him of what he couldn't save.
Gently sitting up, Alice reached out her hand and slowly turned his head so that she was facing him. "I'm sorry," she whispered, sitting up on her knees as she studied his face. "I understand...the pain you must have been going through. That you lose everything dear to you and you can't get it back."
"Not everything," he whispered, taking both of her hands in his. Softly smiling at him, she lowered herself so that she was once again face-to-face with the man before her lips met shyly with his.
"I'll never leave you."
A/N: I lied. Sorry everyone, but I did not include everything that I had wanted to write about in this chapter. Why, you may ask? Well, I have braces and i just got a powerchain put over the first four top teeth. So, at the moment, I am in great pain that even Ibuprofen can't fixed and I have a horrible headache that makes it hard to stay concentrated. Also, I didn't want to give everything away at once so I decided to do Maxi's and Vondrea's 'secret' next chapter. I know, I sound like I'm complaining. But hey, that's who I am and no one is asking you to read my complaining. Anywho, please review and tune in for the next chapter were something very exciting will happen. Note: If you have ever heard the song Human Sacrifice, then you will have a pretty good hint about what the next chapter will be.