The Tumultuous Teapot of Tarrant Hightopp

Chapter 11: China Black Tea

"Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things."
-Chaim Potok

AN: Okay this is the last chapter, and then I have an epilogue for y'all! Please take a look at my other fanfictions, and review this chappie please? Much Love!

Dead? She could not fathom anything that was going on in her head. The knight told her that he was dead? And more importantly that she was the reason that he was dead? How could she do that? Alice loved her dear Hatter why would she kill him? No this was silly she thought.

I am dreaming! Yes, that's it! This is all a dream! I will simply pinch myself and Tarrant would be fine! So happy making his hats, and giving her various riddles! Alice pinched herself to try to awaken herself from this terrible dream, but she could not do so. She pinched and pinched but to no avail she still sat in the terrible cobblestone dungeon of Maromeal.

It was dark and musky, but Alice was not afraid maybe because she knew he would come for her. Or maybe she knew the pain would soon be over, but whatever it was she knew everything would be okay. She had been in the dungeon for countless day awaiting the terrible fate that mocked her. It snicked in her face telling her how dare she love, how dare she make a fool out of fate, and now fate would make a fool out of her.

Many people had come by to pay their respects to the soon dead lass. All of Alice's friend came, McTwisp, Mally, Thackey, they all wanted to tell her they loved her. Oh how she wanted to see Tarrant, but the only thing that awaited her was a sharpened blade.

Alice sat on the cold floor of her stony prison the fourth or fifth day she was held captive a knight came to greet her.

"Rise." The knight said to the lass as she stood in the wedding dress that was in tatters and marked by the black ground. Alice did as she was commanded and the knight opened the iron wrought door. Alice followed the knight into a wide opened arena filled with spectators.

There it stood. Fate that is. With a dark black hood and a knife that could scare even the darkest creatures of the Tugley Wood. Alice was brought up the steps onto the platform where fate would have its last hurrah.

"Alice Kingsleigh." The Whit Queen addressed the lass as she stood with her hand shackled behind her back. Alice looked up to the Queen to see her sitting there. She donned a black dress that looked as though it could envelope an entire village. Her eyes lay dully upon the girl, the Champion, that stood in front of her. Mirana was ready to do it, she was ready to kill this girl. To give her what she deserved for killing Tarrant. Death itself.

"You have been charged with the murder of Tarrant Hightopp of Witzend. Do you accept these charges?" Mirana asked as she looked at the young girl once again.

Alice went to speak when the whole crowd came to her defense. Many of the people booed the accusations as well as her friends. The all knew she was innocent.

"SCILENCE!" Mirana screamed trying to get the crowd back into order. Many people gasped at the Queen's quick change of mood, and the crowd immediately fell into a state of obedience.

"You are found guilty, and so you shall face the gallows for the death of such a man. May God have mercy on your soul." Mirana said dismissively as she made one swift motion with her hand. The exclusionists knew what to do. He would simply swing the heavy, sharp blade against the lass' throat.

She knew it would only hurt for a second so Alice closed her eyes and began to pray. She asked God to forgive her, but more importantly for Tarrant to forgive her. Fate began to swing the blade up cutting the air as it swung, and the blade began to come down.

"Wait." Was the familiar voice Alice Kingsleigh heard.