(A/N:) So, the greatest thing in the world happened to me... My Literature teacher assigned me the Jabberwocky poem to recite in front of the class! Little did she know, that all of it was already engraved in my memory. We're supposed to add emotion and make it completely alive so it doesn't end up like our recited monologues from Romeo and Juliet. Trust me! This is as good as cake ^_^. Also, you should go check out my new friend's stories (Lady Gaga Love Slasher Lust)! We're writing a few together, currently a Buffy one. So, be sure to check that out... On with our story!)

Tarrant held a hand at the small of her back and pulled her up by her wrists, "You'll have to be much more careful, Alice."

She rubbed her back side and groaned, "Ha- I mean, Tarrant, he took the vorpal sword!"

"What?" The usually calm voice of the white queen boomed through the room. She came rushing into the room in a flurry of white with guards surrounding her. She pushed her way through her loyal servants and looked at Alice, "The vorpal sword is gone?"

Alice nodded. Mctwisp rushed into the room, "Your majesty, the creature's gone!" He shouted.

The queen clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. She looked genuinely angry. She sighed, "I'm ordering reconstruction of my home -effective immediately. I want the orraculum brought to me, now! Also, I want the rest of my guards to form search parties. I want the vorpal sword found."

Alice watched as she pinched the bridge of her nose and stormed out of the room, telling Mctwisp to have a tray of tea brought to her private chambers. Tarrant held Alice's arm as they were escorted from the room. He could not tell what she was thinking as her expression was completely blank. He feared she was rethinking her decision to visit his beloved home.

Later that day saw Tarrant sitting in the room Mirana had prepared for him. Alice had gone off to calm the queen and reassure her that nothing bad would come. He fidgeted with his hat in his hands. What would become of his Alice if she were no longer the champion of Underland? Would the kingdom reject her? The kingdom had not rejected himself and his clan only because they had been employed by the queen herself, but Alice… Alice was from the Aboveland. Certain creatures in Underland, Absolem for example, despised the Aboveland people. What should happen if everyone were as prejudice as the old blue caterpillar –butterfly now?

He shook his head and placed his hat on the bedside table, not wishing to think anymore. He felt strangely weary. The madman removed his vest and shirt, settling himself down upon his bed. He would sleep before joining Alice and the queen for dinner –if the queen would emerge from her chambers by then. He closed his large green eyes and found his body relaxing as he slipped off into sleep.

An odd creaking sounded in his ear -a small noise that sounded almost like singing. His eyes fluttered open enough for him to see his beloved Alice. She was as radiant as ever. Her blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders as if it were rays of sunlight washing down upon a lovely meadow. Her tiny hand was on the door frame. He could feel her eyes on her, like hot tea on a cold night. Her lithe form was clad in a short white cloth that reminded him of the mist in Fairfarren. Her pale pink lips were parted as she sang an ominously graceful melody. He listened with intent as her lips were drawn together, waiting for more of her harmonious noises to fill the air. She smirked and spoke softly, "Tarrant."

He sat up, "Yes, Alice?" She lifted her hand and beckoned him closer as she stepped into the darkness of the next room. "Follow me, Tarrant." Her voice lulled. He nodded and slowly stood to follow her. She was truly a lovely entity and he could not help but be captivated by her.

With each step he took, he felt reality suddenly being shattered beneath his feet. He was drawn into the darkness. "Come here, Hatter," She whispered.

He felt slightly wounded. "Please call me by my name, dear Alice."

"Come closer." He heard her telling him.

He took another step forward before realizing everything was engulfed in darkness. Darkness. He could see nothing but the pitch black surrounding him. "Alice?" He asked calmly, trusting that nothing bad could ever come of him by the working of his dear precious Alice. "Alice, where are you? I can't see you."

He felt tiny fingers over his eyes. He could sense the smile that was on her lips. "Here I am," She whispered in his ear. She wrapped her arms around him and he could feel her nails raking down his lean stomach. He turned and felt her hands vanish. A puzzled expression flitted across his handsome features as his gaze scanned the darkness for her. She was across a wide distance. "How did you get over there, Alice?" He tasted her name, and suddenly it simply felt… wrong.

Alice's face darkened as he took a heavy step forward and reached out his arm. His opened hand met steel. His fingers wrapped around the cold bar and shook it hard. Alice's expression changed into an evil and altogether cruel smirk. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Alice!" He shouted to her.

He looked around, noticing the make-up of the Bloody Big Head's dungeon. "No," He breathed out huskily. He shook the bars hard. Was he still in her dungeon? Had he ever left? It could not be? Was his escape all just an elaborate dream? Had the Cheshire cat ever truly come to make right the wrong he had dealt the hatter when he ran out on his clan's destruction? He couldn't still be here. It was impossible! He had gotten out of there, he had watched Alice slay the Jabberwock and watched her leave him. He had witnessed her return and felt her hand catch him from ending his life. This could not be real!

Yet, there he was –standing in the dungeon that belonged to that thrice accursed witch! He looked back up at Alice to find her not Alice, but Iracebeth herself. She was grinning that evil grin of hers. "Now," She muttered.

Suddenly Tarrant felt the icy-hot sting of something slicing down his back again. He'd once thought this torment was over. His other hand shot up to the bars, bracing him. The agony continued as another gash across his back opened and he fell to his knees, screaming out his pain. He looked back, barely able to see Stayne with a whip in his hands. Tarrant's eyes widened and he scrambled over, trying to get out of reach of the Knave of Hearts, but only to fall back to the stone floors due to the chains that held him in place.

Stayne veered back and his arm with the whip and threw the end of it back onto the poor hatter's back. "Ah!" Tarrant shouted. His pain was too great to bear. Blood clouded his vision as he tried to stand again. It was no use as Stayne forced him back on the floor.

He looked at Iracebeth and held out a hand to her. "This is what awaits you, ignorant madman." She huffed and began walking away as the whip sliced a gash in his back.

Tarrant lurched forward, covered in sweat. He felt his eccentric orange curls matting his forehead as he got off the bed. He looked around, turning his back to the door to grab his shirt. He looked up into the large mirror on the other side of the room and jumped, startled. Alice was behind him with an awe-struck expression. He turned to meet her sad eyes. "What saddens you so, dear Alice?" He asked, pushing his arms through his shirt sleeves.

"What happened to your back?" She asked.

He began to button up his shirt, "Nothing to concern yourself about, love. It was a very long time ago. What brings you hear anyway?"

She rubbed her arms, "I heard… screaming and I came to-"

He smiled, "You came to save me," His magenta lips split into a grin at the thought of himself cowering in feel with Alice in front of him with a shield and sword. What made the imagining even more laughable was the fact that for some demented reason he had put himself in a dress.

"Something like that." She replied, "The white queen has called us for her evening meal. I was told to fetch you." He nodded, pulling his vest on and began to button it up as he had done his shirt. She handed him his coat and hat, her eyes still betraying the false smile on her lips.

He took them and extended an arm to her. "And Alice, if you aren't going to give us a real smile, please don't bother showcasing a false one. It pains me to see such a lie from you." She nodded and gave a real smile this time. He returned her gesture and the two exited his room for an evening meal.

TA~~~~~~~TA

He flung his cloak to the floor along with the vorpal sword. The oracle was very displeased with the outcome of events. He looked into his mirror of time and for the first time saw absolutely nothing. His eyes glowered at his reflection. This could not possibly be right! He thought of the situation, forcing the mirror to show him. He looked at the people and elements of his predicament. He removed the blond girl he had fought earlier. He smiled at the sight that then encased the mirror; a decapitated white queen lay in the madman's arms without a crown in sight. Darkness over took the mirror and the oracle grinned from ear to ear. It was so simple… All he had to do… was eliminate Alice.

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