Between the Lines
Story Ten: A Mad Wedding
Time Line: Misadventures in Overland
Characters: Alice/Tarrant, Ilosovic/Alannah, Mirana, Thackery, Mally, Chessur.
Tarrant smoothed down the lapels of his purple jacket for the seventeenth time, glancing nervously towards the palace doors and wringing his hands. He was standing in one of the large gardens of Marmoreal, dressed in his finest, his Hat perched upon his hair-which he had tried and failed to tame. This was it. This was the day his wildest and most wonderful dreams came true. He would finally be marrying his Alice. If only he could stay still! He heard a low chuckle nearby, and turned to glare at Ilosovic. "Will you stop laughing?"
Ilosovic grinned, shaking his head at the nervous Hatter. "Sorry, mate. I do know how you feel, believe me. Just take a deep breath and try not to gawp when Alice comes walking down the aisle." He laughed. "Well, at least not too much."
Tarrant shot him a glare, and then turned his attention back to the palace doors.
Inside, Alice was just as jittery and nervous. She held her bouquet of flowers tightly in one hand and kept twisting her skirt in the other. Tarrant had made the dress for her right after she accepted his proposal, and it was the most beautiful thing she had ever worn. The dress was a deep blue, with lace around the collar and cuffs. The skirt went down to her ankles, and best of all, it was made to be worn without a corset, which was a great comfort to her. The last thing she wanted was to squish her baby.
Alannah and Mirana had spent a few hours before the wedding braiding small blue and white flowers into Alice's blond hair. Mirana had remarked that Alice looked like a lovely nymph.
Alannah, who was acting as Matron of Honor, peeked 'round the corner. "Alice, Mirana's just signaled the musicians to start playing the Wedding March. Are you ready?"
Alice went pale for a moment, but then took a deep breath, nodding. "I am."
Alannah grinned. "Good."
Tarrant watched as the doors opened, and his jaw hit his shin as a vision in blue and white walked towards him. Alice looked more beautiful than he had ever seen her. There was something about the dress that made her look wonderfully feminine. He had slaved over that dress for three weeks, wanting to make sure that it was perfect for his Alice. It seemed that he had succeeded beyond his wildest expectations. He knew that he would never be able to make a dress that surpassed it. He continued to gawp as Alice came to stand in front of him, a slight smile on her face. "A…Alice….you look…gorgeous." He smirked at her, going into his Scots burr. "Ah could eat yah up right naow, my love."
Alice blushed. "Let's get married first, Tarrant." She gave him a devil smirk of her own. "Then later, you and I can have our own little….tea party."
Alannah giggled wickedly from her spot next to Ilosovic, and he glared sideways at her and clamped his hand over her mouth, gazing over at Mirana. "Please pardon my wife; she has a dirty min…ow!" He removed his hand. "You bit me!" He gave her a mock hurt look and sucked on his finger.
Alannah giggled. "I have a dirty mind? Shall I tell the soon to be newlyweds what you and I get up to some nights?"
Mirana cleared her throat. "Yes, as fascinating as that sounds, we are here for a reason. If I might be allowed to conduct the Ceremony?" Alannah and Ilosovic nodded, and she shook her head in amused exasperation before turning her attention to a giggling Alice and Tarrant. "Dearly Beloved…"
She was interrupted by the sounds of a mad scramble, and burst out laughing when Mally and Thackery, followed closely by Chessur, came barreling 'round the corner, looking rather out of breath. Mally was the first to speak. " 'ave we missed the wedding?" Mirana shook her head, still laughing, and Mally beamed. "Wonderful! Thackery, I told ya we'd make it on time!" She ran over to Alannah. "You're tall, give me a budge up." Alannah laughed and lifted Mally onto her shoulder so she could watch. Ilosovic, who still didn't fully trust the little mouse, looked a bit nervous.
Chessur found a spot in a tree, and Thackery sat in the middle of the aisle-until a glare and nudge from Chessur made him move.
Mirana giggled. "Well, since everyone seems to be here, I'll continue. We are gathered here today to join this man and woman in the bonds of marriage. This marriage is important not only for the two that are being wed but for the rest of Underland as well. Tarrant Hightopp and Alice Kingsleigh come from different worlds, yet from the start Fate decreed that they should meet. When they first met, Alice was a little girl. When they met again, Alice was busy trying to be a Queen, and a little too foolish to realize that Hatta was indeed Tarrant."
Alice blushed. "I was seven and a half!"
Mirana smiled, and then continued. "The third time, Alice had been Called back to fulfill her duties as Champion of Underland, with Tarrant as her guide and protector. I must admit we were a bit worried when she returned to Overland, as Tarrant had grown quite close to her, but fortunately he did not retreat into Madness."
Alice looked over at Tarrant. "You didn't? What did you do while I was gone?"
Tarrant smiled softly at her, his eyes light lavender. "I waited. I knew deep in my heart that you would come back, no matter how long it took you. I believed, Alice. That's how much I love you." Alice blinked back tears of happiness.
Mirana smiled. "Now, we come to the important bit. Tarrant Hightopp, will you take this woman to be your wedded wife, to honor, love, cherish, and hold, from this day forward until death shall you part?"
"I will, with all of my mad heart."
"Alice Kingsleigh, will you take this man to be your wedded husband, to honor, love, cherish, and hold, from this day forward until death shall you part?"
Alice could not keep the tears from flowing. "I will, with all of my heart."
"Then by the power vested in me as Queen of Underland, I declare you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."
Tarrant beamed and kissed Alice so hard he lifted her off her feet.
Alannah swiped tears from her eyes, and then blinked as she heard a strange sound coming from nearby. "Mally? Are…are you blubbering? !"
The Dormouse was indeed blubbering, her tears landing on Alannah's dress. "Yes, but if ye whisper one word I'll stab ye!" she whispered fiercely, and Alannah bit back a grin and nodded.
Thackery was celebrating the best way he knew how-he was happily throwing anything he could get his paws on. Luckily, this only consisted of clumps of flowers, and they did not fly as far as teacups and saucers.
Tarrant and Alice finally came up for air, and Mirana beamed. "Might I present Mr. and Mrs. Hightopp?"
The cheers filled the Garden.