Mad World
Chapter 10
Arrival with the Queen at court was a celebration in itself. Everyone at Marmoreal was thrilled to have the champion of Underland back at the castle with them.
Several of the Queen's attendants rushed to open the door of the first carriage to help the Queen out. At the same time, Tarrant Hightopp was exiting the second carriage. The March Hare followed behind him and helped Mallymkun out of the high carriage.
The ladies of the White Queen's court were fussing around Mirana, while the Hatter extended his bandaged hand back inside the carriage to help Alice down.
"My lady," he smiled as he held out his hand.
Alice smiled back at him and his chivalry. She placed her own hand in his and allowed him to brace her weight as she stepped down.
"Thank you, sir," she smiled.
The two of them shared a shy smile.
But their moment was interrupted by an announcement.
"Let us all welcome the Champion back to Underland!" the Queen said.
Everyone's focus shifted from the Queen to Alice who was still holding the Hatter's hand.
The Hatter immediately dropped her hand. He didn't want to embarrass her. But she was already embarrassed; she was still wearing the torn and grass stained dress. She was very poorly dressed in comparison to the ladies of the court and she would be extremely content to hide behind the Hatter. Alice stuck out like a sore thumb, although, that was something she was used to.
Alice tried to smile, but she was so self-conscious, she stayed back with her tea party friends.
The Hatter looked confused.
"What's wrong?" he whispered in his ear.
"I just don't fit in here," Alice replied.
"Neither do I," the Hatter said. "And neither does Mally, Chess, or the Hare, but the Queen wants us all here anyway. And she wants you here, too," the Hatter said encouragingly.
Alice smiled and quietly thanked the Hatter.
Alice's focus turned back to the Queen and the royal court that she was currently surrounded by.
"Alice, welcome back to Marmoreal," the Queen smiled brightly.
Everyone looked at her expectantly, as though she was meant to say something.
Alice stepped forward and the White Queen's court cheered excitedly.
"Thank you, everyone, but especially Queen Mirana and Tarrant Hightopp," Alice began. A slightly shocked silence fell over the large crowd. "I am positive that without the Hatter, I wouldn't be here now."
As soon as Alice had said her thank you's, she knew she shouldn't have said it.
The Hatter had turned an embarrassed shade of red and the ladies of the court started to whisper.
Quickly changing the subject, the Queen began to speak once more.
"As it was our champion's birthday yesterday and she didn't get to enjoy it, despite not enjoying birthdays," Queen Mirana said, smiling widely as Alice. "We are throwing everyone a un-birthday party tomorrow."
Everyone cheered again.
Apparently, un-birthdays were a big deal.
"But for now, we are going to let our champion rest and we shall plan the party for her, I mean, for all of us," Mirana said, smiling.
So, the party would be for her anyway.
"Alice, please come with me and I will personally show you to your chambers here," the Queen said, extending an arm.
Alice stepped forward and the two of them linked arms. The crowd parted and allowed the two women to pass through the courtyard to the castle. But they paused only a few steps in and the Queen turned.
"Tarrant, will you please join us?" the Queen asked.
The Hatter, who had been quietly talking with Chessur, looked up at the two women nervously. He was very surprised at the request.
"Of course, your majesty," the Hatter replied and the crowed parted once more for the Hatter to pass through.
He reached Alice and the Queen and the three of them began to walk into the castle.
"Let the gossiping begin," Chessur purred as he flipped around in the air.
"What do you mean?" Mallymkun asked.
"Just listen," he replied as they moved closer to the Queen's court.
"The Hatter and Alice? He's mad!" one woman said.
"It must be a mistake," a man replied.
"Surely Queen Mirana will be setting the two of them straight," another woman said. "Ha! Could you just imagine?!"
"These people couldn't be more boring," Chessur replied, disappearing.
"Shows what these great galumphing idiots know!" Mally shouted. "My Hatter would never—"
"Mallymkun," Chessur said, reappearing beside the March Hare, making him scream in fear. "Let's just go inside."
Mallymkun's eyes narrowed in anger.
"Chess, what do you know?"
"You were the one who rode in the carriage with them," he replied, matter-of-factly. "I know nothing," he grinned.
Mally deeply regretted having fallen asleep. She looked to the Hare who simply shrugged.
"Oh, dear," she said, before running for the castle.
The Queen had led Alice and the Hatter to her personal sitting room. She asked them to sit and they sat as far as they could from one another on the same divan.
"I thought before any plans get made, that I would ask you to tell me what happened last night," the Queen said. "And that Tarrant would be able to fill in any other details."
"Of course, Queen Mirana," Alice said.
"Oh, my dear, there is no need to be so formal in private. I have my kingdom back because of you."
"Of course…Mirana," Alice said timidly.
"And the same goes for you, Tarrant. When we are in private, please call Mirana. For you are the other champion of Underland."
The Hatter blushed again.
"So, Alice, what exactly happened?"
"Well, I was chatting with Absolem before my party began, then my sister Margret came to get me. We walked into the party and my mother forced me to meet another suitor," Alice began.
The Queen saw the Hatter's eyes glow gold at the mention of the man. He was flexing his bandaged hands, trying to control his emotions.
"I was caught up in his charming personality when the Hatter arrived. I talked to Tarrant," she said and turned to look at him. His eyes instantly turned back to their normal green as she smiled at him. "But I allowed myself to go alone with a stranger. That man strangled me and I think I must've blacked out. I don't remember anything between the man's hands around my neck and the Hatter helping me up."
Alice had a tear rolling down her cheek and the Queen leaned forward to take Alice's hands in her own.
"My dear girl, nothing bad is going to come to you now," the Queen said, reassuringly. "I'm so very grateful you got there in time, Tarrant," she said, looking at the Hatter.
"As am I, your majesty," he said. "Mirana."
"How did you find Alice and that man?" the Queen asked the Hatter.
"Alice screamed," the Hatter said, beginning to get angry again. His eyes burned gold once more as he recalled the sight. "His hands were around Alice's throat, holding onto her as though she were just a ragdoll," he said, his Glaswegian accent getting thicker. "The murderous, sinister, spurious, suppositious, scoundrel…"
"Hatter," Alice said gently, patting him on the arm.
"Thank you, I'm fine," he choked out.
"He choked the life out of Alice and I am not proud of myself, but I knocked the man unconscious," he said, hanging his head solemnly.
"You aren't proud?" Alice asked. "I am! I am very grateful that you did it. I wouldn't be here now! Mirana, I know you have a vow against violence, but the Hatter…Tarrant…is very worthy of some kind of recognization."
"I agree with you Alice, which is exactly why I sent him to protect you," the Queen said. "I knew he would be successful in his quest."
Alice's face showed her confusion.
"You knew this was going to happen?" she asked.
"Yes, my dear. The Oraculum predicted your, ahem, death, in the Otherlands, although it could not tell us how," the Queen said quietly.
"Did Absolem know?"
"Absolem seems to know everything," the White Queen said.
"Why didn't he say 'look out, you're going to die'?" Alice shouted as she stood up from the divan. "No, no, no," she paced. "He just went on and on and on about me rejecting Wonderland or Underland and you all and…" she yelled.
"Alice!" the Hatter said, interrupting her rant and paying back the favor.
"Thank you, Hatter," Alice said, smoothing her dress. "I'm sorry."
The Hatter laughed. "Perhaps my madness is catching?"
A/N: Okay, there was chapter 10! Please review! And thanks to everyone who reviewed before. I try to reply to reviews, but I tend to forget. So thank you all!