Misadventures in Overland Chapter 11

Homecomings

Helen Kingsley hugged Alice, kissing her gently on the cheek. "Thank you so much for visiting, my dear. Your sister and I will miss you, you know. But I am very glad that you came. This has been a truly wonderful week." She turned to Alannah and Tarrant, and grinned. "I must say, I have never met two more fascinating people than the two of you. It is my hope that you will consider me as a friend, and Tarrant, I hope that you look after my daughter."

Tarrant bowed. "Mrs. Kingsley, have no fear. I will look after Alice. After all, I do love her very much. She is the most important thing in my life."

Helen smiled, and then turned to Alannah. "Lady Stayne, I must say you managed to turn this house upside down quite effectively. I must apologize again for the boorish behavior of my son in law."

Alannah laughed. "You have nothing to apologize for, Mrs. Kingsley. I was more amused than offended at Manchester's poor attempts to accost me. In truth, I pity him, since he is unable to see what a wonderful wife he has in Margaret. But if you like, I could leave a bit of my Veritas Tea here, and if some of it were to accidentally slip into his morning coffee, why, then all your troubles would be at an end." She grinned as Helen laughed.

"I may seriously consider it. But I think the dosage you gave him was enough. Now, I must ask, how are you to return home? I doubt there are any carriages that will go between here and Underland."

Alannah and Tarrant laughed, and Tarrant answered. "If you want to see how we are going back home, then all you have to do is accompany us to the back lawns."

Helen smiled. "Very well. Lead on, Mr. Hightopp. I have a feeling that this will be a very memorable sight."

Tarrant gallantly offered her his arm, and they walked out onto the estate, stopping when they reached a large hole. Helen gaped at it in shock. "I do not remember that hole being there! Why, it's hazardous!"

Alannah laughed. "No, it's the Rabbit Hole. Mirana moved it from the Ascot Estate to your Estate to make it easier for Alice to reach home. Once we've all returned to Underland, Mirana will move it back to the Ascot Estate. It will be as if the hole was never here."

Helen frowned. "I'm glad to hear that, but how are you going about getting home?"

Alannah laughed. "Like this, Mrs. Kingsley." She walked to the edge of the hole, and jumped. Helen cried out in shock, and Alice smiled.

"Mother, don't worry. It's perfectly safe. Good bye." She kissed her on the cheek, and then jumped down the Hole, Tarrant following after.

Alannah tucked her arms at her sides, turning in the air as she plunged down the hole. She flipped herself over so she was on her back, and then pushed herself out of the way of the plunging piano. Once she had cleared that obstacle, she turned again so she was sitting cross legged in the air, and then forced herself to slow down as she reached the Hall. She landed lightly on her feet, and then flipped onto her hands as the floor became the ceiling. She knelt down as she dropped, then quickly got to her feet. She laughed as Tarrant landed next to her with a dull thump. "Ouch. You would think I'd know how to fall down the Hole." He looked over at her, and she smirked at him. "You don't seem to have suffered any bruises."

Alannah grinned. "What can I say? I'm very flexible. But I think I hear Alice coming down. You'd best get ready to catch her."

Sure enough, Alice came plummeting down the Hole, screaming. Tarrant ran to the middle of the Hall, and caught her before she could smack into the floor. "There. We don't want the little one to get hurt, now do we?"

Alice kissed him. "No, we don't want that." She walked over to the glass table, and picked up the bottle of Pilshalver. "I wish there was a better way of getting into Underland. This stuff is so vile."

Alannah nodded in agreement. "It is, but unfortunately the Door is the only entry." She walked over to the curtain, and opened it, then walked back over to the table and plucked the key off. "Alice, you drink first, then I'll hand you the key. You unlock the door, and then Tarrant and I will drink, and follow after. Tarrant, be sure to grab the box of Upelkuchen."

Alice nodded, and then drank. "Disgusting. Okay, Alannah, hand over the key." Alannah knelt down, and handed her the key. She walked over to the door and unlocked it, then pocketed the key.

Tarrant and Alannah drank as well, and then Alannah placed the bottle in her pocket. Tarrant walked under the table and grabbed the Upelkuchen, then followed Alice and Alannah out of the Hall and into Underland. He handed Alice a small piece of the Upelkuchen. "Here. This will restore you to your right proper Alice size."

Alice ate it, and immediately shot up to her proper height. Alannah broke off a piece for herself, and sighed in relief as she too became her proper height. Tarrant followed suit, and then tucked the remaining Upelkuchen in the box. He smiled. "Nice to be my proper size again." His eyes suddenly widened in shock. "Alannah, I think your dress has gone through a bit of a change."

Alannah looked at him, puzzled. "What are you talking about?" Tarrant only grinned. Alannah glared at him, then looked down at her dress, and gasped in shock. The dress, which had been nearly down to her ankles, was now barely above her knees. She laughed, shaking her head. "I must have eaten a bit more Upelkuchen than I should have. But no matter." She reached into her pocket and pulled out the Pilshalver, then took a tiny sip, and sighed in relief. "There, now I'm my right proper size."

Tarrant laughed. "I would think you would not mind being a bit taller. After all, your husband is over seven feet tall."

Alannah grinned. "Oh, the height difference has never mattered one bit, trust me. Ilosivic and I are quite compatible in that regard."

Tarrant and Alice laughed. "That's very true, you are." Alice said, giggling. Alannah blushed, and then grinned widely. "I think I'm becoming a bad influence on you, Alice."

Alice laughed. "I do believe you are, and I thank you for it." She gazed over the land, and suddenly grinned. "I think there's someone coming this way. There's a cloud of dust heading towards us."

Alannah and Tarrant turned around, and watched the dust plume rising along the road. Alannah shaded her eyes, and her heart began to pound. "It's Ilosivic!" She whooped in joy, and then began to run as fast as she could. "ILOSIVIC!"

Stayne bought Grey Star to a halt, and then vaulted out of the saddle, running towards her. When they reached each other, she leapt into his arms, kissing him with every ounce of strength she had. He clutched her tightly, and kissed her back just as fiercely.

Tarrant and Alice walked over, and Alice grinned widely. "Quite the enthusiastic greeting."

Alannah and Stayne finally came up for air, and Stayne looked over at Alice, grinning. "I haven't seen my wife in days, Alice." He kissed Alannah again. "Welcome home, my beauty."

Author's Note-One more chapter and then an Epilogue to go. And I have a question for my readers-Should I give Alice twins?