Here's that other chapter I promised you. I'm not putting the next one up until I get at least two reviews! I love you all, reviewers and readers. Imaginary Hatter hats for one and all XD I'm going to see Alice in Wonderland AGAIN tomorrow evening... because I'm researching. That's what I tell myself. I can't remember what the Hatter's workshop in the Red Palace looked like, so you see I have to see it again. That and to hear him say "You might want to focus on the Jabberwocky" in a Scottish accent again. Who else melted into an incoherent mess at that scene? Cos I'm sure it wasn't just me! Enjoy. Dray xx

They had been following the red army for a while now and Alice was glad of it. All of Underland looked the same to her. She knew that were she alone, she would have lost her way ages ago. The Bandersnatch was ambling along at a steady pace and Alice lay her head gently on the Hatter's back between his shoulder blades. She felt so safe with him, especially while they were riding one of the most fearsome looking beasts in the land. Her mind wandered and she decided that when this was all over and they were back in Marmoreal, she would ask the Hatter to make her a hat. She so loved the hats he made, even the ones for that bloody big-head.

"If I might ask: what are you doing, Miss Alice?"

"Hmm? Oh, just daydreaming. Sorry am I making you uncomfortable, Hatter?"

"Not at all, child. Although I shall have to disturb your daydream - the guards have found something."

Alice raised her head and sure enough the guards at the front of the group had stopped. The Bandersnatch took them forwards and Alice and the Hatter jumped down to investigate. The guards were grumbling to each other.

"There's a tree in the road, it'll take a while to shift," said one.

"Is there no way around it?" asked another. Alice looked at the wall of vegetation either side of them and had an idea.

"Maybe we could cut a path around the tree," she suggested. The red guards nodded in approval at the plan and they all set about chopping through the thick plants by the path. They had to keep their distance from each other because of their sharp swords, but it seemed to be working. All of a sudden there was an almighty cry and several figures leapt on them from the surrounding trees. The guards fought them off, but Alice was facing a different foe. In front of her, with a wild look in his eye and a sharpened stick in his hand, stood Ilosovich Stayne. She raised her sword as he lunged at her, slicing her upper arm. Alice was terrified. He thrust the stick again, but this time to distract her. As she tried to defend herself he grabbed the wrist with her sword in it and twisted it sharply so that she dropped it. Catching her other wrist he pinned her to a tree and pressed up against her, closing his eyes and smelling her hair.

"If you won't give in to me yourself, then I shall have to force you, Alice..."

He leaned down to place a slimy kiss on her neck as she wriggled desperately, trying to get free.

"Unhand her you despicable, slurvish knave." The Hatter's disgust was accentuated by his thick Scottish brogue and his eyes flashed an ominous gold.

Stayne spun around, still holding Alice's wrists in one of his long hands. "Come and get her, you lunatic." He spat, brandishing the stick at the furious Hatter.

The Hatter stepped forward, spun around, and flicked his sword at the knave of hearts. For a split second it seemed that nothing had happened. Then Stayne gave an angered cry and let go of Alice to clutch at his chest. Blood flowed freely from a gash in his armour and Alice took the opportunity to run from him.

The two men parried wildly, ducking and fighting viciously. After a few unsuccessful attempts Stayne tried to stab the Hatter, thrusting his sword awkwardly. The Hatter flicked it away easily and drove his own sword into the knave's stomach. Alice clamped her hands over her mouth to cover her gasp of fear. She watched as the Hatter pulled out the sword and chopped Stayne's head off with one swift blow. The abnormally long body fell to the ground and the Hatter turned to Alice. His eyes slowly changed back to their original vivid green and he looked at Alice with an almost broken expression. He dropped the bloody sword on the ground.

"I had to, Alice," he said in a small voice before falling to his knees, his hat dropping to the floor.

She rushed forward to kneel in front of him. He lay his head on her shoulder and put his arms around her. She stroked his hair as he rambled.

"I had to; you have no idea what he did to us. There was so much blood - so much death. I couldn't let him... he was going to take you away from me. I had to stop him, he would have carried on if I hadn't..."

"It's alright, Tarrant. I understand, you did the right thing. You saved me again. Thank you... thank you." They stayed like that for a while, with Alice whispering comforting words in his ear. The guards had managed to fight off the creatures that Stayne had gathered to attack them and were getting ready to move out and head back to the palace. Alice gently got up, pulling the unresisting Hatter up onto the Bandersnatch with her. She sat behind him on the way back, whispering to him and keeping her arms wrapped around him.