Epilogue

A pair of white soldiers brought Danny's lifeless body to the infirmary and a new shout echoed through the battlefield: "Calloh, calley!" and that was the Hatter.

I was still shocked from Danny's death, but seeing my brother dance the Futterwacken again rose my mood up again. I approached to him smiling: he returned it, but quickly got distracted. I followed his gaze and saw Alice pondering on the vial of purple blood: "Go ahead: stop her, Mad Hatter". He merely nodded and walked slowly towards her.

They were far enough for us to not hear them clearly. I felt strong arms wrap around my waist and hot breath on my neck; I moaned and snuggled in Terence's embrace: "Marry me" he said.

But I wasn't sure I had heard correctly: "What?"

"I want us to get marry, Tean. At the latest within a week: I don't want to be apart from you any longer. That is, if you want to"

I had tears ready to roll down my cheek when I answered: "Of course I want to!" I affirmed turning to kiss him all over his lips, but he pulled away, without breaking the embrace: "I'm afraid the only ring I have is…" he stopped to pick something from his pocket "…this one".

I took the silver ring from his palm and recognized the little pearl on the top of it: "It was the first Christmas present I got from you"

He hurried: "That's exactly the problem! Tean, don't think I'm a greedy, please… Don't leave me, I love you so much… but if you are offended don't-" I shushed him with a hand on his mouth.

"How did you get this? I thought I had lost it forever!"

He sighed: "I wanted to keep something that reminded me of you, so when the Cards took us that day I assisted you and slipped the ring from your finger before they could drag me away"

I was touched and remained silent: he took my left hand freeing it from the glove I wore: "No offence then?"

I shook my head: "Of course not…" and he slipped the ring in his proper place around my forth finger.

"Aww, wasn't all o' tha' romantic?" Mally said.

We turned and noticed our audience: "Well, it seems that we'll have a marriage to organize, won't we?" the White Queen said "Shall we head back to Marmoreal?" and with a graceful twirl she walked towards her immaculate castle.

I took a few steps to follow, but then stopped because I felt something was missing… someone.

"Terence?"

"Yes, my love?"

"Could you take Abel and follow the Queen? We'll be right back"

He moved his gaze on Tarrant standing in the emptiness and nodded starting to walk away.

POV change – Hatter

After Alice faded away, the cracking feeling in my chest returned and suddenly my shoes became very interesting. She would have come back before I knew it, but it felt like I was already knowing it.

"Tarrant?" I instinctively lifted a bit my head at the calling of my name and saw my sister. She had a quite excited sparkle in her eyes, but her expression towards me was mind-reading.

She offered the gloveless hand to me: "Great important news waiting for you to know, bro. In Marmoreal"

I looked her hand and noticed something that wasn't there before: a ring.

"I can guess which news they are…" I said accepting her offer.

She studied my eyes deeply before taking a breath and speak again: "You know, I have been in a similar situation once: a man was yelling at me that he would have reached me" she started to lead me on the path for the Castle "Time passed, but he didn't break his promise and here we are"

"So, all I need is hope and patience?" I asked finally.

"And faith in her" she concluded before kissing my cheek.

I let her hand go and started to run, yelling her behind my shoulder: "RACE YEH!"

The End