Apologies friends, for have taken so long to write again! It's been so busy around here! I can't tell you though how happy it makes me that there are still so many that read this and want more! :) Enjoy!


Chapter 11


Alice awoke to a brightly lit room, and no sooner had her feet touched the floor that a set of servants had flooded into the room, drawing her a hot bath, feeding her a healthy serving of tea, eggs and bacon, and spending nearly two hours on her hair, setting it into an elegant topset of tousles and curls. Her hat had been left off in lieu of the crown she was to receive.

By late noon Alice found herself standing in the shade of many blossoming trees, in front of a crowd just as large as the one she had seen at the parade. Even with her heart pounding in her chest, and her knees threatening to give out, Alice turned towards the crowd, reciting the speech of acceptance she had labored over. And it was just as she was gaining her confidence that a light breeze fluttered through, a soft white petal landing upon her shoulder. Feeling it was a sign from Mirana herself, Alice felt a surge of strength and bravery, and there, before the entire White Court and those residents of Underland who had come to celebrate their new queen, Alice vowed to do her duty as Queen, to protect Underland, and uphold the honor of the kingdom. Slowly, a silver crown adorned with deep blue jewels floated down upon her head, Chessur appeared next to her, his signature cheshire grin upon his face. All around the sound of cheers rang out, in the approval of Underland's newest queen.


The celebration that was to follow her coronation lasted well into the night. Alice found herself sharing in many dances, mostly with Tarrant, laughing all the while. He had just finished telling her a most humorous joke when the front doors slammed open, a dark figure stumbling into the room. The bulbous head was the first thing identified. Alice's smile died on her lips, turning into a look of shock and fear.

"Iracebeth!" beside her she felt Tarrant tense up.

"Hewwo.. Alice." She cackled, her hair and clothes bouncing as she did so. She had obviously been through quite a trial, trudging back from exile. Her clothes were torn and tattered, mud staining up her hems. She pointed a grimy finger towards Alice, a rusted chain dangling from the cuff on her wrist. "That cwown belongs to me!"

In her first act of queenly action Alice stood up straight, her shoulders squaring off, her voice strong as she spoke.

"You were exiled. You have no business in being here." Quickly a light bulb turned on in her head. "Where is Ilosovic Stayne?"

"Hah! He was too weak. He was holding me back. So I disposed of him." A nasty smile turned up the ex-Red Queen's lips.

The Hatter moved to step in front of Alice, the White Guards slowly marching forwards to Iracebeth.

"You are to leave Wonderland Iracebeth, and to never come back." Alice spoke from over Tarrant's shoulder, her voice strong as she spoke to the ex-Queen.

"Giving orders alweady are you? You'll be next. I will wule the land again!" she pulled a dagger from a pocket in her skirts, pointing it towards Alice as if to throw it. The knights hurried forward, surrounding Iracebeth, making to grab for her.

"I'll get my cwown back little Alice. Or should I say Queen Alice? You'll see me again, just you wait." And with a quick toss of her hand, a cloud of blood red smoke filled the room, and Iracebeth was gone. Slowly the smoke cleared, as murmuring filled the room instead. Alice's eyes turned to Tarrant's, her skin as pale white as the alabaster stone walls. She could hardly register the voices around her as the celebratory ball was called to an end, and as a gentle hand took her elbow and led her down the hall and into the conference room.

She felt herself being lowered into a plush arm chair; a glass of cold water was pressed into her hands.

"Where is the oraculum?" her voice was quiet and level for as much fear as she held inside. There was the sound of feet scuffling into the room and the mystic scroll was set in front of her. Alice reached out a hand and unrolled the parchment, rolling along past what had already been done.

"She's forming an army…"

"Oh please, 'oo in their right mind would wan'o follow 'er?" Mally asked incredulously.

"Clearly somebody. She's at least found some that are still loyal to her. ..or afraid." Tarrant answered, his voice turning dark towards the end of his sentence.

"So what do we do?" the question came from McTwisp, who had originally brought in the scroll.

"We stop her." The answer came to Alice so naturally, and yet she wasn't surprised by it. Alice heard the sound as several bodies turned towards her.

"Alice?"

"What other choice do we have? I will not let her hurt Underland again!" Alice stood in one swift movement, her skirts rustling. "We will go to Salazen Grum. We will put an early end to this all."

She turned, walking from the room, the meeting clearly dismissed. She continued to walk down the hall, her shoulders tense. From behind her she heard footsteps hurrying after her and was soon joined by Tarrant.

"Alice…now dear I know you're angry, but we must remember to keep our heads." He gave a sort of nervous giggle.

"Things had been fine up til now, and out of nowhere she returns and just thinks that she can take back over! OH I could.." she huffed in frustration, shaking her head.

"Now Alice, we must remember that Mirana vowed to never kill a living creature."

"Well I didn't." her eyes flashed dangerously as she looked at Tarrant. He stopped in his tracks, watching after her as she continued into her room, her door snapping shut behind her.


It's short, I know, but I really wanted to get a chapter out! RxR!