Of Mad Hatter and Truth Serums
Really I'll try to keep this simple: saw the movie loved them, wept because they are not mine.
I had one of those days when everybody is a critic but nobody helps. *MayorSigh* I must take this little moment to apologize to all my readers out there; English is not my native language and it's hard for me to find mistakes, at least grammatically, and have being ignoring capitalization and so forth… I do read before posting but usually I'm in such a high for sharing with you guys that I overlook a lot of stuff. It won't happen again, I'll try my best to reread and reread… I can't believe I actually uploaded a chapter without editing. PleaseforgivemeIdidn'tmeanitn *Sobsob*… As I update I'll change a bit of the script, don't be alarmed I am taking all of you guys good amazing advice and I am very, very thankful for your help. The whole story is finished but I'm taking the time to edit it as best as possible.
So enjoy this chapter!
Love reviews, drop by I heard they are giving out cookies and tea.
Hatter moved down the hall in all haste. His heart was beating hard against his tired chest and his legs moved in long strides towards the room he suspected the queen to be. And she was. Mirana sat on her throne, listening to some peasant's request. Hatter invaded the privacy of the meeting, blood hot and pounding against his ears, without even realizing he was just another one of those peasants. The Queen looked up at him, eyebrow raised while the others beside her just frowned at him.
"Why didn't you tell me you were engaged to be married already?" His outbursts made the new guard (the one replacing Belian) stand forth, hand moving to the hilt of his sword, but Tarrant was not worried by this. The Queen turned with a frown to the guard, and held her hand up. The Hatter suddenly realized his mistake and taking off his hat took a deep breath.
So much for a quick chat with the Queen.
"Leave us." Ordered the Queen, closing her appointment book as the little peasant and advisors left the room in a single line. Once the door echoed close the While Lady smiled at Tarrant, not the usual sweet smile but more like her I-mean- business-so-be-quiet smile. "Tarrant?"
"Me Lady?"
"May it be the last time you storm in during one of my audiences, understood? I must attend to my people no matter what."
"I understand me lady. Forgive me. But you ought to not keep such secrets anymore."
"I take it you remembered?"
"Alice helped." The moment stole a lazy smile from them both and the Queen stood, in silence praying for Alice's eternal well being, and neared the Hatter.
"Why didn't you tell, Mirana? I thought we shared everything. Almost."
"Because I couldn't."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm under a spell, Hatter." It took a moment for the information to sink; the White Lady under a spell. A spell bound the White Queen. A spell. Ridiculous!
"What?"
"I am under a spell; something I can't talk about because it won't let me. I devised plan so you would remember and rid my unwanted attention. Both objectives have been reached."
"Then why do I feel like I still have a lot of work ahead for me?"
"I can't tell."
"You can't tell or you won't tell?" She gave him a small smile. "Alright." Tarrant sat, moving his hat in little circles with his fingers. "I have to find your old fiancée, Joseph, right?" She didn't move and that meant that he was correct. "Get the old lieutenant out of the way and marry you so you can have a baby, right?" The White Lady took a step towards her throne and set her hand over his head, petting his hair. "This spell is powerful, eh?"
"A bit."
"I assume it won't let you tell where your fiancé lives, right?" A shook of her head. "But is he close?" No answer. "Close enough to visit your quarters undetected I take." Her eyes widened and she jus pulled a bit of his hair as punishment. "Of course he is close! Where would a Queen hide her lover?"
"Where would you?"
"My night table."
"What?"
"I've been thinking about writing Alice a song. Is that a coherent thought?"
"Amazingly coherent from you that is." The Queen smiled taking another step towards her throne and the hatter stood. "When you have written this song down bring it to me. I'm sure we can find the perfect tune to go with it. We'll use my violin." The Hatter loved violins and so he agreed immediately.
"I should take my leave."
"On your way out tell the children to come back in, please."
"As you wish." And he left. In her throne, as the peasants and advisors came in anyone would have seen the smile on the Lady's face. Tarrant was slowly gaining his sanity.
"Alice?" Said Tarrant, leaning before his night table on his hands and knees. He was hopeful both he and Alice could share a little tea, each on their own world, and had surrounded himself with little treats and even tea cups and kettle. Just like a picnic. He should have picnics with Alice once she returned home, and the snow cleared of course. "Alice, love, you there?" He served himself some tea and sat down on the floor. "Well, it was worth a try." And so he drank from the warm cup.
The sun had made a reappearance and while outside people marveled at its warmth Tarrant had decided to stay inside his room and talk to his furniture. Tarrant finished his first cup and stood, filling the china up again and walked to the balcony. Below he could see the gardens again, having been cleared up, and the twins were down there, all snuggly in the coats Hatter made them. Followed by Hare and Mally who seemed to be playing tag, Chess was there as well, appearing and disappearing here and there. They seemed happy to be outside, like they haven't being in three whole weeks. Hatter left his saucer over the railing of the balcony and sipped his tea leaning close to it and smiling inwardly. It was a gorgeous day.
The next time he spoke to Alice he'll ask her to have morning tea with him.
So looking up Hatter sipped his tea and wasn't surprised to see a large blue butterfly flying towards him.
"Hatter!" It greeted in amazement, or so the Hatter thought by the way it was shouting.
"Ah, Absolem, how are you?"
"You must come to the room of mirrors, at once!" Tarrant scoffed.
"That's half the castle away, too long a walk. Beside the view from here is just fine…"
"No you mad fool!" Here the Hatter interrupted again.
"Your temper was usually foul towards me."
"Alice's in danger!" Said the butterfly hastily, showing emotions Hatter had rarely seeing in such little creature.
"Whatever you mean…?"
"Hatter!" It was unmistakable; that voice was like sweet call in a dark day even when sounding so alarmed. Dropping his cup Hatter hurried to the furniture piece and knelt. "Hatter!"
"Alice, what's wrong?"
"The house is on fire! Half the room has collapsed and I'm trapped in my closet!"
Panic rose on the Hatter's chest, enveloping his heart and soul. He let out a loud cry and fear let out several Outlandish curses. He opened the drawers in vague hope of helping her and found it quickly futile.
"Alice! Alice love! What do I do?!"
"Help me!" A deep strain of cough followed. "Help me!" Her voice was low, weaker as coughs made their way along with smoke from the bottom of the night table. Hatter's panic made him stand and pull at the table, finding only wall and floor. When he pushed the furniture back he noticed something else; he'd broken the connection between the two worlds. It was seldom that he cursed an object after having blessed it so much…
"Alice!"
"To the room of mirrors! Now!" Cried Absolem. "I will fly ahead, stand on the mirror. Hurry!" Without coat or hat Tarrant ran out his room, running out the hallways and out the gardens, through tea parties and couples taking a little stroll out the warm sun. He passed by Hare and Mally who were still playing around with Bander and Chess. Then a long cherry blossoms path towards the tower where he could see Absolem fly into the particular room through the small window. The guards saw him running and opened the doors for him, Tarrant was too in panic to thank them, and he started climbing the long path of white stairs…
If he lost Alice, sweet Alice, to fire he would never forgive himself. He'd lost his family to fire, unbending untamable fire. He'd lost his little sister, his home, and sanity to fire. He couldn't loose his soul now. But not this; the promise of the love his life, not to fire. "Alice!" He slammed the door to the room of mirrors open and panting looked around the few mirrors standing there. All the same, all full frame, with only one singled by Absolem. The smell of wood and paper burning reached him and Hatter nodded at Absolem who flapped his wings over the shimmering glass. "She's through here," And Hatter was about to step through it when the butterfly stopped him. "You may only reach into the mirror with one hand, and down to your elbow."
"Will that get her back?" If he had to lose his head for Alice he would, and he did during the reign of the bloody big head, didn't he? He would do it again.
"If you pull back hard enough." Hatter swallowed hard and without thinking too much of it reached in; he flung his arm down to the elbow around the other world and finally felt lace under his fingers and fisted his hand tightly. Something pulled him forward and letting out a cry of pain he pulled backwards even harder… Dress, Alice and smoke were free from London world and falling over the tumbling Mad Hatter. Alice let out several deep coughs loudly, shivering in fear and pain. Hatter just wrapped around her, feeling every gasp for breath, every cough and sob. Alice turned, burring into his chest and sobbing, Absolem flew to her hair, in silent soothing as Hatter recapped the situation in his head.
She was home, smelling of smoke, sobbing, probably in pain, but home at last.
A fear of relief washed upon him and for a moment, all was well in Underland.
"She must have burned right before she escaped. Thankfully it won't leave a scar, and she'll recover faster than expected." Informed the court's physician as he closed his bag and smiled at both Hatter and Queen, who stood over the bed where Alice laid asleep. "She'll need a lot of fresh air and rest." Hatter barely heard what the man said, too engrossed with the miracle of Alice over bed, chest raising and falling. Her left hand and leg had been burned during the fire in London and was over the covers, bandaged properly. She'd fainted as he carried towards the Queen, who had been walking with her usual troop of followers down the gardens. They had moved quickly after that; fetching the physician, fetching tea and something for her arm. So far Alice had not graced them with the beauty of her consciousness. "Let her rest and we shall see tomorrow, alright?'
"Thank you good Merier, you are always a delight." Said the Queen as the man tipped his hat (a creation of Tarrant's) and left the room. Hatter knelt beside the bed and took Alice's right hand, kissing the warm limb tenderly. "Someone should stand by here during the night. I would suggest you, but as things are… I rather take the first watch and let you bring us tea tomorrow morning."
"Must I leave?"
"I understand your worry, but it is not proper for a single lady to have a male watch over the night."
He groaned about proprieties and such, and kissed Alice's hand again. "Very well. But first I'll bring her something decent to cover up with." Tarrant stood, fixed his shirt and hurried back to his room, pulled his duvet (another one of his creations) and then back to Alice's room. The Queen helped him cover the woman on bed, and then smiling, scurried him out of the room. "Tomorrow you'll be able to see her, alright. Just let her rest."
"But I haven't said goodnight!" And the door was closed before his face. Inside the room he could hear Mirana giggle and then silence.