Chapter Thirteen - Dreams and Dinner
It was raining, great fat drops of water falling from the sky and creating enormous puddles all around her. Except no, it wasn't ordinary rain. There was a sound being carried on the wind. Sobs. Someone was crying, deep shuddery sobs that coincided with the bursts of saltwater raindrops. Who was big enough to create tears that size?
Alice pivoted around, looking for some sign of the person as the water built up to her ankles. The only thing in her field of vision was a large leaf, its sides curled up to make a concave shape. So, it wasn't the other person who was so big; it was Alice who was so small.
The water had reached her knees and Alice sprinted through the waves for the leaf. It crunched as she climbed inside but the greenery held. The moment she was inside, the water rushed up again and the leaf set off sailing across the expanse of blue-grey.
"This is unreal," Alice muttered to herself as she stood shakily in the bowl of the leaf, looking out over the endless sea of tears.
"Impossible things rarely are." The familiar, sing-song voice startled Alice and she looked up at the stem of the leaf. The Cheshire cat was sitting on the raised stem, licking a paw lazily.
"You again," Alice said in surprise.
"Yes, we are becoming quite friendly, aren't we?" The Cheshire lowered its paw and flashed a toothy smile at her.
"Friendlier if you'd just tell me things instead of giving me stupid riddles," Alice snapped irritably. "I could've protected Hatter if you'd just told me what was coming."
"But then it wouldn't have happened," the Cheshire pointed out. "And things that happen must happen so they can happen. Even an Oyster like you must know that."
"You make no sense," Alice said, turning her back. The Cheshire was sitting on the ground just in front of her and Alice jumped in surprise. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the stem was empty.
"I make perfect sense." The Cheshire's voice had dropped in pitch and taken on an angry hiss. "You just refuse to listen."
"Fine, I'm listening then," Alice said. She sat down in front of the cat and folded her arms. "So talk."
"Wonderland is going mad," the Cheshire said, fixing its luminous eyes on her. It laid down and tucked its front paws beneath its chest, wrapping its tail in around its body in an oddly protective position. "The balance is shifted. The chessboard is uneven."
"What am I supposed to do about it?" Alice asked.
"Selfish Oyster. Not all legends are for you."
"Hatter?" Alice asked and the cat purred loudly. "Then why don't you tell him these things then?"
The Cheshire's purr fragmented into laughter. "Dangerous place to venture, the mind of a mad Hatter. Once was enough, thank you." It turned its head and Alice followed its gaze. On a rocky plateau that was just barely above the lapping water stood a beautiful sheep, its thick, curled wool the colour of the freshest snow. It was chained to the stone and bleating morosely.
"What is that?" Alice asked.
"Your goal," replied the Cheshire.
"A sheep?" Alice frowned. "We're supposed to find a sheep?"
"Don't be ridiculous," the Cheshire said, shooting her a patronising look. "Pay attention, little Oyster." It looked down and Alice followed. On the floor of the leaf between them were three things: a wriggling lizard, three little hillocks of rock arranged in a row, and a little bouquet of wildflowers. "Follow the directions and he'll find you there."
"What directions? Who will?" Alice asked, but she blinked and the cat was gone. Standing up, Alice looked around hopefully but she was once again alone on her leaf in the middle of the ocean of tears.
"Protect him, Alice." The voice came from nowhere and everywhere, but it was definitely not the Cheshire cat this time. The voice was feminine and sweet, and it reverberated with power, far unlike anything Alice had ever felt before. It was a voice that could shape worlds. Looking up, she could just faintly make out a shape in the clouds, a smooth profile amid a pale gold halo. "He is the last hope of Wonderland."
An enormous tidal wave swept over her, capsizing the little leaf, and she was spiralling down through the water… Down… and down… and down…
Hatter climbed carefully off the bed, making sure not to wake Alice, who had fallen asleep propped against the headboard at some point. He stood and was grateful that his legs held him easily. A nice, long sleep had done him good. Snatching up his hat from where it lay on the pillow, he toed across the room to the mirror and took in his reflection.
The bruises and cuts on his face had faded slightly, changing into more natural colours, and the shadows beneath his eyes had lessened. Curious, he tugged his shirt free of the leather belt still fastened around his waist - mighty uncomfortable, that - and peeled off the stiff tunic. Half of the cuts on his chest looked like nothing more than raised welts and the stitched hole in his shoulder was puckered where the skin was starting to close up.
Smiling smugly - always had been a fast healer, him - he turned and crossed to the wardrobe. Hatter rummaged through the folded shirts and trousers methodically before finally settling on dark brown trousers and plain, maroon shirtsleeves. It was a far cry from what he preferred, but it was at least a right sight better than the muddied white outfit he was wearing at the mo. Smelled better too.
He traded out the white cloth trousers for the brown corduroy ones and then pulled on the shirtsleeves. It took a great deal of effort and sucking in to get the shirt tucked beneath the leather belt the Lion had forced on him, but he managed it eventually. There were a few pair of sturdy boots and wool socks in the bottom of the wardrobe and he gratefully pulled on a set. He was in the middle of rolling up his sleeves when the creak of bedsprings caught his attention.
Alice was awake, blinking owlishly from beneath the sleep-tangled fringe of her hair. She straightened up and as her gaze fell on him there was something wild and bright about her eyes. Hatter frowned nervously. "Love, you alright?"
"Hatter, you-" Instead of finishing that thought, Alice jumped down off the bed and crossed the room to him in hasty strides. He had just opened his mouth to ask her what she was doing when she grabbed the collar of his shirt and dragged him down into a searing kiss. Sparks fired behind Hatter's eyes and he could taste her Emotions on her tongue.
All in all, Hatter prided himself on being able to keep his head around Oyster Emotions. It had helped him manage the Tea Shoppe all those years without succumbing to his own products - which he only sampled on the rarest of occasions. Even living in Alice's world, he had been surprisingly resistant to the pull of Emotions that fluttered through the air around the Oysters like heady perfumes.
Of course, everything was different with Alice. And when he was this close, touching her skin and sharing her breaths, it was like downing a straight shot of Euphoria on an empty stomach. His limbs tingled and his heart galloped like a stampeding Borogrove and fire itched beneath his skin. At the same time, on top of his own emotions, he could taste hers; Happiness, Adoration, Passion, Excitement, and something bittersweet. Not Melancholy. More like – Nostalgia, maybe?
Hatter was panting for air by the time Alice dropped back down to her heels. He blinked a few times to clear his vision and took slow, steadying breaths through his nose to filter out the Emotions before speaking. "Not that I'm complainin', mind, but what was that for?" he asked curiously, tilting his head down to meet her stormy-blue gaze.
Alice abruptly released the front of his shirt, smoothing out the wrinkles her grip had left. A warm blush spread across her cheeks and Hatter felt her Self-Consciousness as clearly as if it was his own. He had to resist the instinctive urge to double-check his appearance nervously.
"It's just - you, looking like that," she said and took a step back to eye him up and down, "You look like Hatter again. Not David, but Hatter. My Hatter."
Wrinkling his brow, Hatter glanced over at the mirror and his reflection startled him. While the clothes weren't necessarily his style, they were closer than what he typically wore in Alice's world. The rest of him had made a subtle shift back toward the man he'd been in Wonderland. His hair, so tame and flat in the Oysterworld, was once again seeking to defy gravity and, with the hat and the charcoal lines around his eyes, she was right. He looked like Hatter. Not David Hatter, but the Mad Hatter of Wonderland.
Hatter's shoulders squared up and he smirked. He hadn't realised quite how much his time in Alice's world had changed him, slowly but surely. It had happened so minutely that he hadn't noticed, but it was true. He wasn't the same man who had jumped through a Looking Glass after the Oyster who'd stolen his heart.
Of course, that man also wasn't the same one who had first encountered a feisty Oyster in a very wet dress. It all came down to what she had said: he was her Hatter.
A sudden look of unease flickered across Alice's face and she frowned. "Hatter, I -"
The rest of her sentence was drowned out by a heavy knock on the door. "His Majesty requests your presence at dinner," a male voice shouted through the wood. "As soon as you are properly dressed, we will depart."
Alice frowned and looked down at her dirty jeans and jumper. "I suppose I should change my clothes, shouldn't I?" she asked, wrinkling her nose.
"There's some rather lovely dresses," Hatter responded, opening the second door of the wardrobe to reveal a row of dresses in various shades of maroon hanging from metal hooks. "Fancy the red one meself."
Rolling her eyes at his cheek, she rummaged through the line of dresses to find something that she liked. After a few minutes of indecisiveness - and some rather unhelpful help from Hatter - she settled on one that was simple and comfortable, paired with brown leggings. She'd learned the hard way to always be prepared for running, just in case.
As she peeled off her jumper, Hatter froze. "Alice, is that-?"
Alice glanced down at her chest and saw the little golden locket she'd taken from his shop hanging against her breastbone. "Oh. Hatter, I'm sorry I took it," she said hastily. "I just - I thought if you'd hidden it away it must be important. You can-" She made to take it off but Hatter stopped her.
"No, you keep it," he said and the smile on his face was both pleased and sad. He traced a fingernail along the outline of the flower and his eyes softened fondly. "Was me mum's."
"Are you sure?" Alice asked uncertainly.
This time, Hatter's smile was full and genuine. "It'd look right silly on me," he said playfully. "But it looks good on you. Suits you. An' I think me mum'd be glad to know it's bein' worn 'gain."
Alice nodded, still hesitant but not willing to argue it further with him. She pulled the dress over her head and Hatter helped her with the zip, and then she slipped into a pair of soft, gold slippers that had been sitting in the bottom of the wardrobe. "Ready?" Hatter asked. Alice combed her fingers through her hair to smooth out the knots and then nodded.
When they tried the door, the lock was still placed. "Um, blokes, bit rough to make a date when we're locked in," Hatter called through the door.
"Right hand in the cuff, Hatter," the voice from the other side said.
Hatter sighed and rolled his eyes. "Alice?" he asked and held his hand in front of the cuff. Scowling, Alice fastened the metal link around his wrist, careful not to let it get too tight. Hatter fidgeted awkwardly and then turned his gaze to the wood. "All snug. Satisfied?"
In response, there was a clink of the lock being turned and the door swung open. Three soldiers were standing in a semi-circle outside the door, guns trained on them. Alice immediately held up her hands and Hatter lifted the one that wasn't chained to his waist. The middle soldier stepped forward and checked the cuff around Hatter's wrist, tightening it until Hatter winced from the pressure.
At a nod from the soldier, the other two lowered their guns. "If you'll follow me," he said, with a cordial dip of his head as if he hadn't just been pointing a gun in their faces.
" 'orrible manners, the lot," Hatter tsked as he and Alice fell into step behind the guard. The other two soldiers flanked them and from the corner of his eyes, Hatter could see that none of them had holstered their guns. No one spoke as the soldiers escorted them down a winding path of abrupt turns until finally, they reached an open set of double doors.
The room beyond was a proper castle dining hall, with lines of pillars that extended up to sweeping buttresses in the arched ceiling. A long table made of bleached white wood spanned nearly the full length of the room and a scarlet runner covered the top. There were a half dozen servants standing post at the far end of the room and, in an enormous throne-like chair at the head of the table, the Lion was lounging.
"Please, come, join me," he said, his booming voice easily crossing the lengthy room.
Alice hung onto Hatter's right arm as they walked to the other end of the table. At a gesture from the prince, Hatter sank into the chair on his right and Alice slipped into the one next to him. The rest of the table was deserted. "Where are Charlie and Rory?" she asked, frowning.
"Your companions will be taking supper in their rooms," the Lion said calmly. "I felt it would be better if it was just us. We have matters to discuss." He waved a hand and the servants came forward, setting trays of food in front of each of them. Hatter, who hadn't eaten a proper meal in days, felt his stomach churn with anticipation.
"Please, help yourself," the Lion said. "I'm sure my sister's hospitality did not extend to food."
Unable to help himself, Hatter tucked in feverishly, or as well as he could using only his left hand. Everything was absolutely divine, from the flame-broiled bird - Whistbry, he reckoned, or Gorm Sparrow - to the seasoned vegetables, most of which Hatter hadn't tasted in his lifetime. The whole thing was garnished with bread and butter that melted in the mouth and a sweet, honeyed wine.
"It isn't poisoned, you know," the Lion said abruptly and Hatter looked up. It was only then he noticed that Alice had been picking half-heartedly at her food.
"It's alright, love," Hatter assured her and glanced pointedly at the Lion. "He needs us alive, don'cha?"
"Clever as they come," the Lion said in amusement.
Hatter chuckled dryly. "Flattery doesn't work on me."
Alice was still glaring at the Lion suspiciously but she obligingly took a bite of the meat. She tried to hide it but her eyes lit up at the taste and she continued eating with less reservation.
"You know, I 'ate to tell you this," Hatter said, spearing a crisp, green wedge of something on the golden fork, "but if you're lookin' for this fellow Time, I dunno where he is."
"History says otherwise," the Lion said unconcernedly. "And you've been around long enough to know that History does not lie."
"Not outright," Hatter agreed. "But she can be twisted easy 'nough, and she's a right sucker for gossip."
The Lion laughed, a thunderous, bestial noise. "True enough, my friend," he said passively, examining the rim of his wine glass before bringing it to his lips. "Still, you are the best shot I've got at finding him, and I will find him."
"Goo' luck with that," Hatter said flippantly.
"Now don't be that way," the Lion said, his grin sharp. "I am being so much kinder than my sister was. Surely you'd rather I have the information than her."
"A gilded cage is still a cage. Honestly, I'd rather neither of you find 'im, for 'is sake," Hatter said plainly. "But see, that's not really up to me. Like I keep sayin', I don' have the information you want."
"I disagree," said the Lion. "And so does my expert."
Hatter's eyebrows rocketed up to his hairline. "Expert?"
"Yes." The Lion leant forward on his elbows and his smile seemed dangerous and predatory. "I have in my employ a man who is an expert in the lore of the Hatters. He has told me all about the original Hatter, his conflict with Time, and the secret they share. The secret that belongs to all Hatters."
"Knows a right lot more about me family than I do," Hatter said with a laugh. "I'd like to meet this expert o' yours."
"I was under the impression you already had, but of course," the Lion agreed. He gestured to one of the servants, who scampered off to a small door set in the corner of the room. "Hatter, Alice-of-Legend, please meet my advisor, the Lizard."
A man strode out of the door and toward the table. He was tall and thin, his dark hair shot with grey at the temples and slicked back over his head. His clothes were all black save for an emerald green trenchcoat that hung to his knees. He walked with his head bowed and stopped at the edge of the table beside the Lion.
"Lizard, greet our guests," the prince said with a hint of sadistic pride.
The other man sighed and then lifted his face. At the same time, Hatter's hand went slack and the fork clattered to the table loudly. It seemed like all of the oxygen had been sucked from the room, but Hatter managed enough breath for a single, incredulous word.
"Da?"