In Love With a Hatter
Part Ten
They walked the route that the Hatter had taken first taken last time she was in Underland, while on his shoulder and before he'd been seized. They were walking into the blackened and burnt area of the forest where his clan had died. She stopped and turned to him and felt guilty that she'd walked him here. They both sat down on a rock and it was quiet for a while. "What was it like Hatter?" she asked softly. He stared straight ahead, still grasping onto her soft hands and his voice trembled. "Awful. Horrific. Terrifying. Terrible, Alice"
"I didn't explain my story that well last time Alice." He started to say but she interrupted "Hatter, if you don't want to then its ok. I'm curious and ... I worry." She said quietly. He looked at her. "What makes you worry?" he asks her. She didn't answer so he continued.
"My family had come down from the mountains to visit me. Like I told you, I was Royal Hatter then and they were proud of me and wished to see me enjoying myself. Then the White Queen had said that we were meeting the White Knight who was Champion to her at the time." He smiled at Alice before carrying on. "However as they trotted in on their horses, there was a sudden darkness and the first of the screams came." Alice interrupted again "How come, once I slayed the Jabberwocky, the throne went automatically to Mirana?"
"The Jabberwocky was chosen to be the Red Queen's demon and prized pet – the security that held her at the throne. She made a bargain with Mirana that if anybody was slayer of her darling Jabberbabywocky, Underland would be free and the throne would go back to her. But most of us knew she was lying. Mirana put an enchantment on the Jabberwocky so that happened, as the Red Queen herself had said it." The Hatter's eyes went bright orange and he started shaking. Alice put her hand on his cheek "Hatter" He looked at her and moaned. "So the enchantment in place, Mirana went back home to Marmoreal and waited." He explained. Silence.
"Have you ever fallen in love Tarrant?" Alice asked, not blushing. His expression softened and he was reminded directly of...Alice. "Yes, I have" he said boldly. She nodded but then made no more comment. "So you've met somebody who is your everything?" she asked, starring at the ground. Her heart was beating franticly.
"Hatter...I need to tell you something" she mumbled. She had to tell him, now of all times: they were alone, totally alone in the burnt out area of the woods. She gazed up at the Hatter and he wasn't looking at her, instead he was gazing at the trees. But she could see something building behind his eyes.
"I mean she murdered innocent children!!" he suddenly roared, jumping up and throwing up a rock on the floor so much it flew out of sight up a tree. His eyes, a burning flame of red; she jumped up and feeling braver than she felt, put her thin arms around his waist. "Hatter!" she yelled.
Hatter looked down, his eyes returning to green at Alice's eyes, full of lust and love. He was about to say he was fine but had a better idea. Instead he lowered his head until they were nose to nose. She could feel his breath on her face and their breathing had slowed. Their eyes glued on each other and she started to say "Hatter, I..."
"I hope I'm not interrupting an important moment" said a deep voice behind them. They both jerked and whirled around. "Stayne" Hatter growled.