CHAPTER IX

The Prism of Hearts

For over an hour they sprinted far from the battles upon the shores of Prince's Lake, and at last they made a firm halt once they predicted that they were secure. The cries of battle had faded into the far distance towards the west, and they were glad to receive no scratches or wounds from the conflict. Exhausted and drained from the running they collapsed upon the ground upon a circle of ferns, and they fought for breath. As Alice struggled to regain her strength, and her throat dried from the tiresome sprinting, the Hatter laughed to himself. Alice gave him a strange look. 'What is so funny?'

'That was fun,' he chuckled rowdily.

'Fun?' Alice felt the complete opposite. 'We were almost killed!'

'Sure, but the adrenaline really gets to you,' he said smiling. He arose and brushed the leaves from his tunic and coat, and he offered a hand to Alice. She took it, and he helped her arise onto her sore feet. As Alice began to brush her dress clean and rub the mud and stains from its surface, she caught sight of the Hatter staring as though in a trance behind where she was standing.

'What?' she asked, and then she followed his gaze to see, in awe, of what his eyes beheld. As though Looking-glass Land had strolled casually into a scene from an eerie and Gothical fantasy, and not so subtly either, they saw a swirling mist form upon the clearing beside the small woodland. Its ghostly claws sent a chill to everything it embraced. The green clad trees had withered and died, and the skies had disappeared behind the coating of the haze. There was no sound, not even of the sweet melodies of birds and the whistle of the breeze. The area was desolate, and there was emptiness beyond the mist. Alice sighed disheartedly. 'It's as though it's two years ago again,' she whispered, remembering that this is what Wonderland once looked like also.

'This is the entrance to Bishop's Hollow,' he said with a hint of sorrow and malice within his voice. 'The area is forsaken, and it has always been for over two hundred years.' The pale mist made Alice uneasy, and with an impulse from fear she took hold of the Hatter's hand and grasped it firmly. And there, they took the first steps towards the accursed mires of Bishop's Hollow.

The area transformed into a grey swamp tainted with monochrome shades. The trees slumped upon the filthy marsh water, and it added to the atmosphere of eeriness and unease. As they carefully tread across the paths of the marshes, they took a sudden halt once their eyes were lain upon a surreal sight.

A fortress - or what was left of it - lay in decay amidst the desolate swamps. The turret had been sucked down into the abyss, and it leaned dangerously to the right; its roof collapsing and its stone-laid walls dissolved. A murder of crows circled the tip of the tower, where once a flag would have been waving proudly in a warm breeze. They cawed, as it were the caws of doom that they cried from their blackened beaks. The door itself had disappeared, but there was a hollowed out archway large enough to shelter a small company of people from the outside.

The Hatter sighed with a hint of courage. 'Shall we?'

'What happened here?' she asked; sorrow present within her voice, and all she could do was watch the crows glide around the falling tower.

The Hatter stood in thought for moment, but then he answered: 'Nobody really knows for sure,' he said. 'It was once a grand fortress that belonged to the Red Army. It was either destroyed by the Jabberwock or was razed by oppressing forces of the Heart Army. Whatever happened, this place holds a tragic story, and a haunting past.'

'So this is Bishop's Hollow?' she said.

'Once it was called Bishop's Keep. Its other names nowadays are the Pale Swamps or the Red Marshes. Either one suits. I hadn't laid my eyes upon this place for many years.'

'It sends shivers down my spine,' whispered Alice, and she forced her gaze away from the dreadful birds. 'So the Prism of Hearts rests here?'

'That's what Humpty Dumpty said,' said the Hatter. 'He's a clever one, actually, hiding it here. Nobody ever comes here anymore. I'm assuming it lies through there,' and he pointed towards the archway. Alice sighed, and she reluctantly proceeded towards the broken archway. The Hatter followed, and they carefully tread through the marshes.

They entered through the stone-laid arch and emerged into what was once a hall supported by intricate pillars and laid with marble floors patterned with white and red checkers. Although now the floor was filthy and the weeds pervaded through the stone, and the colours were hardly recognisable. Like Rook's Hold, the walls were coated in ivy and thorns, and the stone cracked like lightning through grey clouds. At the end of the hall was a dais, and upon it stood a defaced statue once proud and splendid but now defiled and spent of dignity. As Alice observed it: it was once the memorial of the Red Monarchy's forebears, she presumed; a King Alice did not recognise, and neither did the Hatter. Upon the slab of stone that the sculpture stood were fading runes which appeared to be Latin, although Alice assumed it was of the language of Looking-glass land - that is if there was Hatter knelt and observed the runes, and he murmured some inaudible words. Alice knelt down beside him. 'What does it say?' she asked.

'It is in Mirror Speech,' he said. 'You need something to reflect it otherwise it looks like scribbles.'

'We do not have a mirror,' she said.

'No, but,' and then the Hatter arose, and he paced across the hall and upon the rubbled ground he picked up a dusty shard of glass. He blew and wiped away the dust, and the glass reflected his tiresome face. He returned to the slab, knelt down, and placed the glass a few inches from the runes and read:

'One, two! One, two! And through and through,

The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

He left it dead, and with its head,

He went galumphing back.'

'That's the Jabberwocky Poem,' said Alice.

'Yes,' replied the Hatter. 'This must be a memorial to the Slayer of the Jabberwock. There's a few more words down here but I cannot decipher them. Then not just a fortress this is, but also a monument to one of the Champions of the Red Lands.' And with that he threw away the shard, and he arose.

'Shall we continue in search for the Prism?' asked Alice also arising.

'Yes,' said the Hatter. 'Let us search.' For many long minutes they were finding the resting place of the Prism, but with no luck. Alice circled around the statue and saw then a suspicious looking symbol on the back of the slab. She traced the design with her fingers, and found then a handle covered in webs and dust. She pulled it, and then a compartment opened within the slab. Alice called the Hatter over. She reached inside and pulled out a peculiar shaped object wrapped in a tattered cloth. As she unveiled the object, she and the Hatter smiled in triumph. 'The Prism of Hearts,' whispered the Hatter in awe.

The Prism of course was shaped as a prism. It was coloured red and black and it bore symbols of hearts and roses across the sides of its surfaces. But alas the object did not open, or show no signs of enchantment. Rather disheartened, Alice sighed. 'It does nought,' she said. 'If we cannot open it then what hope is there to end the oncoming war?'

'I don't know,' answered the Hatter. 'But all I know is that we keep this Prism secure and away from the Heart Army. Here,' the Hatter pulled out a pouch from his belt, 'place it in here.'

'Will it fit?' asked Alice.

'Just about,' and he took hold of the Prism and squeezed it into the pouch. It made a suspicious pyramid shaped form. 'Okay, so we need to have it not look like a prism.'

'Here,' said Alice, and she pulled again from under the compartment a satchel hidden at the side. 'I suppose Humpty was to return for it in dire need,' and she placed the Prism inside, and it formed no shape whatsoever. She smiled. 'Perfect!'

'Where to now?' asked the Hatter as Alice lifted up the satchel and placed it upon her back.

'To continue my previous assignment: reach the end of Looking-glass Land and retrieve the Crown.'

'The Crown?' the tone in Hatter's voice didn't sound so supportive. 'I don't think you'll have much luck retrieving it.'

'And why not?' huffed Alice.

'It is guarded by the Lion and the Unicorn,' he answered, and he shook his head. 'They'll never hand it over unless with good reason. If you have some great persuading skills or something worth a bargain it'll be pointless.'

Alice frowned. 'I care not,' she snapped. 'I'm getting that Crown even if I have to snatch it from their hooves and paws! I've come too far to give up; with this Prism and the Crown I'm sure nobody will be in league with me.'

The Hatter stood silent for a moment, and then a trace of a smile curled at the corner of his lips. 'Very well, Alice. You always were a determined soul,' and then he grinned. 'Well, try the best you can. I'll help you if necessary.'

'Thank you, Hatter,' and she smiled.

They left the hall and emerged back into the mires, and there they tarried for a moment outside the archway. 'So which way is it to the Lion and the Unicorn?' asked Alice.

'Um,' he thought, and he rubbed the back of his neck wondering, 'I know not. There is no sun in the sky to show the directions and we have no compass. But if we came from the west, which is that way,' he pointed towards the way they came, 'then I suppose we must head east. But I don't know the direction from here. If we return back the way we came, then I'm sure I can find the directions to the final rank. Eastward? Yes, eastward... But there are no roads by Prince's Lake.'

'Then what should we do?'

'Well, head north out of the swamps, but I know no path. Then I suppose we could find a way?'

'That would be best,' said Alice. 'I'm sure-' Suddenly, and definitely caught off guard, Alice was pulled back with supreme force by an unknown character. The Hatter was also, and they were forced down onto their knees with hands grasped firmly onto their shoulders, arms and the back of their necks. Confused, and somewhat irritated, Alice presumed it was the Red Knight again. But this time it wasn't. The fog was thick, and the swamps minimised sounds, but she knew then it was another company.

'Oh, look what we have here,' said an unpleasant voice from the mist. They heard the sound of hooves, and there, sitting proudly upon a gallant steed, was the Knave of Hearts; smirking with victory. 'Two wanderers caught off their guard.'

'Illosovic,' snarled the Hatter, his eyes burning with rage. 'Unhand us at once!'

'Why would I unhand a traitor? Did I unhand the Egg Man? Nay.' He jumped off his horse, and he approached the Hatter. He towered above him like a golden colossus, and the Hatter was but a helpless captive in his net. 'Tarrant, and resident of Wonderland, aiding an unfamiliar face,' and he turned to see Alice, and he smiled sinisterly. 'Speak your name, woman.'

Alice scowled. 'Not such a polite way to ask now, is it?'

'I care not for manners when one is an enemy to our Majesties,' he snarled. 'To me, enemies are but insects under my force.'

'You're lower than dirt, you scoundrel,' barked the Hatter.

'Silence, peasant!' and with an iron fist he smacked the Hatter full force in his jaw. Alice let out a cry, and the Knave turned to her. 'You did not answer me last,' he snarled. 'What is your name?'

Fighting back a wave of disgust and detest, Alice sighed. 'Alice,' she answered.

'Alice?' the Knave thought for a moment, and then he grinned. 'Ah, Alice. I remember you when you were but a sprout, although a curious and annoying brat also,' he turned to face the Hatter. 'So you began to deliver messages across the land, but now you've sided with the enemy, have you not?'

'What?' said the Hatter, spitting blood from his damaged mouth. 'I sided with neither. I was neutral to all.'

'That is not what I have heard,' said the Knave, and then he beckoned to a few Heart soldiers. There appeared two soldiers escorting a timid and terrified creature with pikes and swords. There appeared the White Rabbit; a look of dread on his pale face as he glanced at his helpless allies. The Knave approached the critter, and the Rabbit flinched as he leaned down so they were face to face with one another. The Knave smiled. 'If what you said is true, Rabbit, your loyalty to the Heart Monarchy shall remain.'

'Nivens,' hissed the Hatter with a hint of betrayal and anger. 'You told them?'

'I had no other choice,' cried the Rabbit. 'They forced it from me. I am so sorry, Tarrant, and so sorry to you too, Alice.'

'So the Rabbit speaks truth, then,' the Knave arose and unsheathed his sword. 'The Egg Man hided the artifact within these swamps. Rather cunning, to be honest; for even I would have not strayed to Bishop's Hollow if I deemed the artifact was not within this area. But now the question is: where does it lie?' Then Alice appeared uneasy and worried; for the satchel hung from her back, and inside lay the Prism. Then the Knave caught a glimpse of her expression, and he smirked once he saw the bag. 'Look through that bag,' he ordered. But as soon as the soldiers attempted to open the satchel, the Hatter flailed free of the soldier's grasps and seized one of their pikes from their hands. Caught at unawares, the Knave rapidly turned as the Hatter stood fiercely aiming the spear at him. Before the soldier's attempted to restrain him, the Knave ordered them not to, and he directed his blade at the Hatter.

'Are you wishing to battle me, peasant?' he asked in amusement.

'If I must I shall,' growled the Hatter. 'You unhand her at once.'

'I must decline,' said the Knave. 'If you so wish to fight me then do so!'

'Hatter, don't!' cried Alice. This scene painfully reminded her of the duel between the Hatter and Leo two years prior, and she dreaded for it to receive the same outcome. But before any could deliver to first strike, a cry of a bird was heard within the clouded skies. And then suddenly, Alice felt the grasps of the soldiers loosen, and she found herself unbound any longer. The Knave looked back in bewilderment, and found a creature of great stature attacking the host of the Heart Army. Once the Knave's attention was lowered, the Hatter tripped the Knave up with his spear, and pointed the tip millimetres away from his throat.

The Rabbit rapidly turned to Alice. 'We must leave immediately!'

'I'm not leaving with you!' she cried at the Rabbit, but then something caught the top of her dress and she found herself flying backwards and landing onto a warm surface.

Once her surprise lowered, she found herself sitting upon the Gryphon's back. 'Hold on tight, Alice!' he ordered. He also lifted up the Rabbit at his waistcoat, and began to beat his wings ready to depart. The Hatter saw and attempted to join, but he felt a firm grasp at his ankle and he fell onto the ground.

Alice saw this and cried out his name: 'Hatter! Tarrant!'

But it was too late; for the Gryphon was already in mid-flight, and had left Bishop's Hollow and glided through the unclouded skies. Whereas now the Hatter was held hostage, and the Knave smiled at his new prisoner. 'Another one to join the Egg Man,' he snarled, and the remaining soldiers seized him and led him away out of the swamps.

'But what of the girl?' asked one of the soldiers to the Knave.

'It no longer matters. Her Majesty will be at the battlegrounds very soon. We must leave it for now and depart,' but then a cold look of a sinister pleasure crossed his face, 'the War has begun.'