Well, another chapter :D For SilverLunarStar (sorry, I can't do links!) because of her dedication. They're catching up with me now. I have been two chapters ahead of myself every time I uploaded, but I'm frantically writing the next one! Hope you still like it and I have a whole plot planned out. Well... not quite planned, but it'll get there. Not really sure what to do with the Red Queen when I find her, but I'll try and think of something interesting! Any suggestions? Oh, and has anyone heard of Sunrise Avenue? I've been listening to their songs "Fairytale gone bad" and "Diamonds" and if you listen to stuff like Breaking Benjamin and, um... ok I don't know who else they're like, but just check them out. I've been using their songs as muse-y music for this fic XD OOH, and I have uploaded my drawing on DeviantArt if you're interested: http : // zandra17 . deviantart . com / art / Burton-s-Mad-Hatter-162195574 (just take the spaces out) and please keep reviews coming, they are the needle and thread to my hat-making of life... don't ask! Enough from me. Enjoy, Dray xx

It was getting late when they reached the front gates and the White Queen rushed out to meet them. She grabbed the Bandersnatch by the collar as they got down off its back and took in the state of the Hatter. She motioned her head in the direction of the palace.

"Go," she said quietly.

Alice nodded and guided the absent-minded Hatter through the halls to her own room. She sat him on the bed and settled herself beside him, waiting patiently for him to be ready to talk to her. One of the frogs that served the Queen came in with two cups of tea on a tray with some sugar, milk and cream. He placed it on the table near the door and left without a word. Alice went over to the table and realised that she had no idea how the Hatter took his tea. She picked the whole thing up and put it by the bed, sitting back down next to him.

"Hatter?" she asked tentatively. "Please talk to me, Tarrant."

"I couldn't save them."

"Who?" Alice spoke gently.

"Everybody. I tried to get them out of the fire, but I couldn't find them."

"Is that what happened to your hands?" Alice reached for his right hand slowly, watching him to gage his reaction. When she sensed no resistance she took it and held it delicately between hers, studying the red marks on the ends of his fingers. He nodded in answer to her question. She stroked her fingers lightly over the thimble and the scars. He closed his eyes and sighed.

"What you must think of me, Miss Alice..."

"What on earth do you mean?" Alice looked up at him in confusion.

"Here I am in your room, on your bed of all places, with you looking after me."

Alice frowned; she couldn't see anything wrong with the situation. The Hatter leaned towards her conspiratorially.

"It's supposed to be the other way around, lassie." His Scottish accent had returned and he wore his mischievous grin once more. Alice had never felt more relieved in her life; the Hatter was returning to his normal self. She was afraid that she had lost him when he had killed the Knave of Hearts and given her that heartrending look.

She stopped stroking his hand and entwined it with hers. "Even the bravest Hatters need saving sometimes." She reached up with her free hand and cupped his cheek. "Come on, drink some tea - it'll help." They both put milk and sugar into their cups and drank in comfortable silence. Alice finished hers a little while after the Hatter (who was infinitely more experienced in the art of tea-drinking).

"Mirana will want to know what happened," she told him, putting her empty cup back onto the tray with his and standing up.

He stood with her. "Will you come with me, Miss Alice?"

"I will be right beside you, Tarrant. I'm not going anywhere." She took his hand.

They went to the main hall together. When they approached Mirana, Alice felt slightly uneasy. The Hatter seemed to notice this and let go of her.

Mirana pretended that she hadn't noticed them coming in and she greeted them.

"I'm glad you have come back safely. Now, what happened? You two were in a state when you arrived."

Alice stepped forward to explain, saving the Hatter having to go over it all again. When she had finished, the Queen nodded solemnly.

"It is very unfortunate that you had to experience that, but at least Ilosovic Stayne is no longer a threat to Underland. You did well, Tarrant. Oh, and I have had a workshop set up in the room beside yours. Anything extra that you require can be obtained by giving Mc Twisp a list, he will sort it out for you. What do you think?"

The Hatter looked overjoyed. "Thank you, your highness."

"You're welcome. Come with me, I will show it to you." She led them to an ordinary looking door, unlocked it and motioned for them to go in. Alice followed the Hatter inside. The contrast with the white of the palace interior was striking; the walls were covered with a deep red satin and there were workbenches around the room. Large boxes containing every colour of material under the sun littered the benches and there were racks of tools standing in various corners. Shelves with stands stood against the wall waiting to receive hats and paper and there was a rack for any dresses, as well as a tailor's mannequin. Alice turned to watch the Hatter's reaction. His eyes had lit up to be even greener than usual and Alice was sure that they were glowing. He went to one of the benches and looked through the tools, running a hand over the gleaming new sewing machine in front of him.

"It's perfect, thank you." He glanced up at the Queen. She inclined her head, acknowledging his thanks.

"I'll leave you to it, goodnight Tarrant."

"Goodnight, your highness."

"Alice, will you come outside with me for a moment?"

"Of course, Mirana. Goodnight, Hatter!"

"Goodnight, Miss Alice." He beamed at her.

The Queen and Alice went to the balcony where they had talked before and the Queen looked out at the waterfalls with a troubled expression. Alice joined her.

"What's the matter, Mirana?"

"Oh, it's just that... well - I need you to go out with the search party again. I'm worried about my sister; she may not be trouble any more. In fact, from what you told me about Stayne I believe that she is in trouble. I would like you to find her for me. I understand that it may be a long and perilous task and with Tarrant in such a fragile state..."

"It's all right, Mirana, I will go. Hatter has his workshop here and he's not too fragile. I think that now he can work again he will be much happier. I will ride out with the guards again tomorrow morning... without him."

"Are you sure Alice? As always, this must be your own decision. Are you alright without Tarrant? You two are nigh on inseparable."

She sighed and stared into the distance. "Yes, I think it will be for the best. He will not be pleased, but I will not allow him to relive such pain again." Alice would not admit it, but she had a firm image of her Underland and all of the people in it. She knew that Hatter had been through some terrible times in his past – to ignore that would be foolish – but she had always seen him as cheerful and colourful, as he had been when she first came to Underland all those years ago. Not only Hatter, she also had a very fixed view of the innocent sanctuary that Underland was to her and the friends she had here. She did not want that to change and if it meant finding the Red Queen by herself, so be it.

"You know best, Alice. I will come and wake you myself at dawn. Goodnight, and sleep well." The Queen hugged her. Alice held on to her tightly for a moment before pulling back to speak.

"Thank you. Goodnight Mirana, pleasant dreams."

When the Queen had gone Alice turned back to the view of the waterfalls and sighed.

"You're safer here, Tarrant. Forgive me."