Sorry its really late :S I had major writers block for this chapter, & I was reunited with Naomily4EVA last week after a whole summer apart! So yeah we had a LOT of catching up to do! :P I'd recommend reading her story 'Lost in Wonderland', its really good, & sadly will be finishing soon :'( she's on my fav authors!

Disclaimer: Don't own anything!

Chapter 10 – Karzaron

Alice

The gates of Karzaron rose up before me; great, foreboding, and seemingly impenetrable. Various complicated locks ran down the length of where the two black gates met, and two black hooded figures paced back and forth before them. They stood over four metres high, as did the thick stone walls. And in the creeping darkness, I could just about make out a few black shapes silently circling overhead.

There was thankfully no moat, no disgusting lake of floating heads. I scanned the bottom of the wall, and soon found a few different-sized cracks, ranging from two inches to six.

Cautiously, from behind the large boulder I was crouching behind, I took out the Shrinking potion and took a small sip, as I had no idea how much I would need. I coughed at the slimy, vile-tasting liquid, and almost immediately felt myself getting smaller. I took another larger drink, and continued to shrink. Finally, I stopped. Stepping out from under my oversized clothes, I hastily found and put on the miniature dress I'd made from scraps of my normal sized dress. It nowhere near as pretty, or as comfortable as the one the Hatter had made me when I'd shrunk in Underland, but it would do for now. I silently thanked my mother for forcing me to practice sewing at least twice a week.

I was smaller than I'd ever been in Underland; perhaps three, four inches tall? At any rate, I soon realized that it would be very hard to carry around the photograph of my friends and the one unknown at my tiny size, harder than I'd thought. Then I had an idea.

'Maybe, just maybe…' I murmured, then glanced around to make sure that no one had noticed me, before curiously pouring a little of the peculiar Shrinking potion onto the photograph. I watched in amazement as it shuddered once, and then shrunk to the size of an apple seed! This Shrinking potion was definitely not the same as Pishalver.

Filled with excitement, I pocketed the photograph easily and then poured more of the potion over my boots. The scraps of material I'd wrapped around my feet were a poor substitute for shoes.

I was just putting them on when a piercing shriek echoed from inside the castle walls and yet another winged creature took off into the skies. My heart froze as I remembered the angry deer-monster I'd encountered in the woods that first night. My memory was blurry, and the sight before me was dimly lit, but I couldn't shake off the possibility that they might be the same kind of creature. So abandoning the rest of the potion, I sprinted to the shadow of the wall and huddled against it. The guards didn't bat an eyelash. I hastily pulled myself up to the nearest crack, a couple of inches above ground level and slipped through, landing easily on the other side.

I gasped at the sight.

Spikes. A whole forest of hard spikes, as thick as a man's finger, but tapering to a needle-sharp point. They rose up above me, blocking my vision of the fortress and its guards. Anyone who attempted to walk across them would instantly have their feet ripped to shreds. I shivered at the thought.

But as I gingerly reached out and touched one of them, I realised with delight that they posed no threat to me. Walking over them was deadly, but walking amongst them? For someone of my current size, it was a piece of cake.

Muchness, Alice! With that thought echoing in my head, I hurried forward through the lethal forest of spikes, moving past them effortlessly. Some bunched together tightly, while others had a couple of inches between them. It might only have been 25m long, but the whole journey took me about twenty minutes.

And when I reached the last few rows of spikes, I finally saw the fortress standing imposingly before me, shocking me into silence.

A few moments later, I gathered my courage and muchness again, and hesitantly peeked out of the spikes searching for guards and other obstacles. The winged creatures still patrolled overhead, and a few squat, short creatures paced in front of the huge wooden doors, painted ebony black to match the dark stone. One creature passed underneath a lantern, and for a second its ugly squashed face was lit up. Two tusks extended from its mouth, and its bulbous grey eyes were glaring balefully out from under its hood. I automatically recoiled, and then continued to look around. The walls of the castle were only five metres away, and I knew if I was fast, I could cover that without the angry trolls catching me. My way in was directly in front of me.

A long battleaxe stood propped against a windowsill in front of me. The wooden handle was covered with many tiny marks and scratches, as if it had been attacked many times in battle. These marks would provide the perfect handholds.

I took a deep breath and as soon as the trolls were facing the other way, took my chance. No one noticed as I raced across the uneven courtyard stones and hauled myself up onto the axe. The axe handle was at an angle, making it easier for me to half run, half climb up it. It was a long, arduous process and by the time I reached the windowsill, I was gasping for breath.

I heard the entrance doors creak open, and the front of the castle was suddenly lit up by lamps in the entrance hall. Now I could see that the spikes extended out from the wall all around the front of the castle, save for a smooth path leading from the Gates, which widened into a small courtyard before the doors. It was unadorned by fountains, or tasteful plants, unlike the courtyards back in England. Then my attention was drawn back to the doors, as I saw the reason for them being opened. Several men stepped out into the courtyard, each leading a large, dog-shaped beast. The All-seeing Hounds! I thought excitedly. I was lucky enough to have just missed them. They growled and slavered at the ends if their ropes, and as soon as they were freed dutifully began to pace along the path leading to the Gates. I shuddered at the sight, before turning my attention back to the window, which was a wooden sash window, like the ones in my mother's home.

Looking into it, I saw to my surprise an elegant dining room, brightly lit by lamps and furnished mainly with a large wooden table and at least a dozen mahogany dining chairs arranged around it. Paintings and ornaments decorated the large room, while a heavy rug covered the majority of the cold stone floor. Heavy curtains hung at the sides of the windows, undrawn as of yet. As I watched, a flustered young girl a few years younger than me entered the room and began setting the table. An older man followed her and began to light the fire on the far side of the room. Another girl then entered with delicate china plates, and began to carefully set them out.

'Tell the guards to keep the Hounds quiet for his Majesty's dinner!' the man hissed at one of the girls, as he lit the first of the various candlesticks positioned around the room. She nodded, and to my horror, hastened to the window where I sat looking in.

But I needn't have worried, for the girl paid no attention to me as she heaved open the heavy window and called out to the guards. They assured her quickly that they would do their best, and satisfied by their answer, she pushed down the window and firmly locked it, by which time I was safely inside and hiding behind a chair leg.

Half an hour later, the servants finally left the dining room. I quickly made my way through the room to the door, staying close to potential hiding-places. Thankfully, the servants had left the door slightly ajar.

The door led to what was clearly the entrance hall. Candles in brackets lit it up and a great chandelier hung in the middle of the ceiling, but it was deserted. Curiously, all the doors to the right of the entrance doors (including the dining room door) were a dark, handsome oak, while the ones on the left were dark, ugly, and plain, contrasting starkly to the elegance and richness of the others. Shivering, I turned my attention to the grand, red-carpeted staircase opposite the doors. The Trees had told me that the Mirror stood in the King's private chambers, which were at the top of a tower and reached by a spiral staircase, which was only accessible from a narrow passage leading from the King's throne room; which in turn was on the first floor of the castle, and directly in front of the stairs. Meaning, I had to climb this huge, majestic staircase at my current height. Sighing, I got to work.

Each stair was a little smaller than me, but it was still hard work, continuously hauling myself up, over and over again. Once, I was on the 11th step, when a servant came running out of one of the doors on the left brandishing a duster and broom, and sprinted up the stairs. So intent was she on her task, she didn't notice me crouching next to one of the banisters. It seemed that all the servants in Karzaron were much too diligent and hard-working to pay attention to their surroundings. Or too terrified.

As I climbed on, getting closer and closer to my future home, for the first time a seed of doubt planted itself in my head. What if Underland – and its inhabitants – weren't pleased to have me back? What if, now I had slain the Jabberwocky, I was no longer welcome? But as these unwelcome thoughts came creeping further into my head, I forced myself to remember Absolem's words and the look on the Hatter's face as I drank the Jabberwocky blood. Absolem had said they missed me…and I couldn't have imagined that amount of pain and sadness on someone's face. I couldn't have imagined that someone I'd only known for a few days could feel that amount of pain and sadness when I left. That I'd have that effect on anyone.

The guilt resurfaced, and I forced myself to return to the task at hand. I was trying to return, wasn't I? I was doing the best I could to reverse the damage done on Frabjous Day. And more. I wasn't going to even start to forgive myself until I saw the Hatter dance the Futterwacken; the dance of unbridled joy, again. That memory had been one of the first to return, and I had smiled at it many times before I had fully understood who the man doing it was, and why he was doing it.

Finally, eventually, at last, arms aching, feet weary, I pulled myself up onto the twenty-first step. I sat there for a few moments, catching my breath, and would have stayed for a few more, had not the tall doors directly opposite me opened at that very moment. Seizing the opportunity, I ran forward, dodging the feet of a strange, small, troll-like creature with wings extending from its ears. A chair was positioned a few feet away from the entrance, and I lost no time in hiding behind one of the back legs, in shadow. From that relatively safe place, I looked out onto the infamous throne room.

One of the Trees had told me it was an impressive sight, and added that I was very lucky indeed to have the chance to enter and see it in its glory, and survive. Hardly encouraging. But I didn't look at the mysterious, tall, black doors situated at regular intervals in the walls, or the grand, beautifully carved pillars positioned all around, nor even the thirteen steps, one for each year of his reign, rising up to where the King's black throne sat, each marble with a golden edge. Instead I stared at the tall dark man standing on the floor before the stairs and wearing the crown, and the creature he was talking to.

He looked more…normal, than I expected. He was wearing expensive-looking clothes, like the ones wealthy gentlemen wore in England, and had short dark hair and a dark, neatly-trimmed beard. He wore a single heavy gold ring on his left middle finger and a little gold earring hung in his left ear. His only other jewellery was the gold crown on his head. It was plain, apart from a ring of green emeralds around its base and looked to be pure gold, but he wore it with ease, and showed no signs of discomfort.

As for the creature, it was none other than one of the deer-monsters I feared. The King was tall, but it towered above him, its great antlers rising higher still. Its great wings were neatly tucked against its body, and like the first one I'd seen, it had sixteen sharp tines rising up from its head. I noticed how the guards seemed to be edging as far away from it as they could. The creature stood tall and proud, no sign of fear showing in his stature. An aura of menace and danger surrounded the pair, as they stood together in the middle of the throne room, each showing no signs of attacking the other. I strained to hear what they were saying.

'Have you had any news from the search party yet?' the King asked.

'The air trackers have found the Underlandians,' the deer-monster replied calmly.'They sent back the messenger an hour ago with the news. They promised to stay with them and let you know as soon as they leave the woods.'

'Thank you, Kiar,' the King said, a cruel smile appearing on his face. 'I think I shall include a few Kiarkaris in the attack on them. Perhaps you and I shall even go and slay a couple of that scum ourselves.'

The deer-monster, apparently called Kiar, laughed. 'I think I'd enjoy that, my King. And you're right to do that – those Granesmrars can't be trusted.'

'And your kind can?' the King asked, raising an eyebrow.

'Of course!' Kiar cried, a look of outrage on his face. 'More than that slurking urpal slackush scrum of a race!' He quickly stopped, looking vaguely uncomfortable, as if he'd remembered he was with the King. I stared at him, taken aback. I hadn't expected to hear Outlandish here, at all. But remembering what the Trees had told me about the creation of Otherland, I supposed it made sense. Pulling my attention back to the King and Kiar, I saw that the King had an unreadable expression on his face, and Kiar was now looking very uncomfortable. It was deadly quiet, as we all held our breath and waited for the King's response.

Finally he broke it, laughing with his eyes as well as his mouth. In that moment, one could almost forget he was King of Otherland. 'Do not worry yourself, Kiar; I don't doubt the Kiarkaris' loyalty. I would never think ill of your race like that, you are all far too noble, and so could never be compared to the Granesmrars. However '– and his face turned stern – 'I must ask you to refrain from using Outlandish, not for the first time. We need not share more than one language with the Underlandians.'

'I'm sorry,' Kiar murmured respectfully, although I sensed that he was biting his tongue and not saying what he really wanted to. I noticed now that he looked quite young – younger than the other Kiarkaris I'd seen but still full-grown. 'May I ask about the other search party?'

The King nodded, and their voices dropped, so that neither I nor any of the other guards could hear what they were saying. Although judging from the way they were now edging subtly forward, they wanted to. When I was certain that everyone was focused on the intent conversation between the King and Kiar, I began to quietly, stealthily, make my way along the wall towards the farthest door on the right which led to the King's chambers – and my way home. There were no other chairs, so I hid behind each pillar as I passed it. The guards were now all standing on the other sides of the pillars, the side visible to the King, and no one was looking out for a tiny girl running across the marble floor.

'Stop!'

I froze where I had been running, exposed between two of the great pillars. Slowly I turned my head to see that silence had fallen after the Kiarkaris' sudden shout, and that all eyes were now on him, including the King's. He inhaled deeply and pricked up his ears. I looked longingly at the nearest pillar, beside which stood the door I needed. It was so close! Holding my breath, I took another step forward – and immediately Kiar's head whipped around and his purple eyes bored into mine. I just had time to wonder why they weren't red like the rest before all the other pairs of eyes in the room were on me, and my heart rate increased tenfold. And suddenly I was staring straight into the King's cold dark eyes, and I couldn't move, as terror gripped me. It was only when one of the nearby guards took a lumbering step forward that I was jolted back to my senses, and without further ado sprinted to the next pillar, searching in vain for an escape route. All the doors were locked. I dashed to the correct door and tried to tug it open, a hopeless task. I gave up as the guard neared me, and took off, running anywhere, only wanting to get away from them.

The King seemed to be watching in amusement as three of the nearest guards tried to corner me while the others hesitated, unsure of what to do. 'Get her,' he ordered calmly, and instantly I was running for my life from a dozen troll-like creatures. But I couldn't run forever, and finally one made a grab for me, squeezing me tightly as I struggled and attempted to push his fat fingers away. He raised me up to his ugly face, leering and grinning at me, and I angrily responded by biting down on his hand. He didn't drop me, to my disappointment, but his face grew even uglier, and he glared at me in disgust as he carried me over to the King. I glared back, observing that he was one of the bizarre creatures with wings on their ears.

'Here you go, my Lord,' he bowed smarmily to the King, before presenting me to the King, careful to keep his tight grip.

'Well done, Kwogedonn,' the King said, lips curling into a smile. 'My my, she's vicious, isn't she?'

He grunted as I bit him again, and scraped at his six-fingered hand with my nails. 'Aye my Lord, that she is. May I ask your Excellency who she is?'

'Why, Kwogedonn, I'm surprised you haven't guessed already,' the King smirked. I felt his eyes on me as he said, loud and clear; 'This is none other than the Champion of Underland herself; the great Alice Kingsley.'

How did he know who I am? I thought frantically, and began to struggle even harder than before.

The ugly creature looked at me dubiously. 'Begging your pardon, my Lord, but she's very small.'

'We'll ask her why that is later,' the King said, his smile disappearing. 'For now, she's getting to be a bit of a nuisance. Put her out, will you?'

'As you wish, sir.' Before I could protest, his large, clumsy finger was pressed against the side of my neck, and the last thing I saw before passed out was the King staring at me with his cold, calculating black eyes.

Hope it was worth the wait!

:) xxx