Jabberwocky was dressed in light breeches and a loose fencing shirt when Hatter and March brought Alice back from the outside courtyard. Glancing up from his rapier, he smiled cheerfully, "Ah! There you are! March, take your rapier and let's fence!"

Hatter grimaced and pulled Alice back as March sighed, "Yes, sir…" Unsheathing his rapier, he approached Jabberwock cautiously, the rapier held at chest height.

Alice watched in awe as Jabberwock advanced, one hand crooked against his side while his feet took mincing confident steps as he and March circled in the center of the room.

March took action first, stepping forward with a swipe of his decorated blade. Blocking it calmly, Jabberwock grinned, "What's wrong, March? That had no power in it! Afraid?" He swept forward and jabbed viciously at March.

Skipping back and away, March readied for Jabberwock's evident assault. And when it came, it was given all in horrible force.

Jabberwock lunged, eyes glinting, "You're holding back, March!" He swung harshly at March's unprotected left side.

March blocked it, teeth gritting.

Smile growing only wider, Jabberwock doubled his attack with extreme vigor.

Hatter edged along the wall, Alice by him, as the fight grew in intensity and violence and started expanding all across the room. Silently, he led Alice into her room just as March locked swords with his liege and struggled to yank free of the lock. Hatter closed the door behind him and shook his head, sighing, "You'll see. In a second, this will be all over."
Seemingly as if listening in on Hatter, March gave a despairing yelp from out in the main room. Moments later, Jabberwocky swung open the door, smiling in derision, "Okay, now that that's over with…"

Behind him, March sucked at his forearm where Jabberwock had drawn first blood and, doing so, had won.

Motioning Alice and Hatter to follow him, Jabberwock ranged his rapier in its sheath and returned to his desk, smile fading to its usual grim scowl, "Now… I have something important, very important, to say. But first…" He waved a hand, "Sit down. Except for you, Alice… Come here and stand up!"

Alice meekly complied and let him position her as March and Hatter dragged chairs up. Arranging her so that she stood in front of the two seats, Jabberwock instructed, "Now, Hatter, March, sit."

The two assassin generals sat, cautious but curious.

"I'm going to ask for your opinions. I want you to answer truthfully." His eyes switching to pure white, he began pacing behind a still Alice, " Alice here is –what?- in your opinion? Beautiful, ugly, somewhere in between?"

March cocked his head, "Pretty and cute."

Nodding, Hatter gazed at her with solemn eyes, "Very beautiful."

"Good." Jabberwock put a hand on Alice's shoulder as she tried to turn and ask what he was doing, "No talking, Alice. Now, Hatter, March, what do you think of her… kindness level?"

Both chorused, "Nice."
Alice smiled at the two as the Jabberwock went onto his next question, "Greedy?"
"No." from both assassins.
Jabberwock narrowed his eyes and asked, "Loving? Great character? Then three words to describe how you feel about her."

Ears leaning forward, March gave his answer happily, "Yes. Yes. Now, three words…? Caring, loveable, fair." He turned to Hatter and remarked, "I like this quiz! Don't you, Hatter?"
Hatter ignored his partner, his cheeks horribly flushed as he muttered, "Yes to the two and…and…" Faltering, he blushed crimson.

March finished the sentence for him, "He loves her."

Silent, Jabberwock nodded, though his expression was sour. Turning his attention back to Alice, he circled her with the anger falling from his face to be replaced with cheer. Finally, he grinned and clapped his hands on her shoulders, facing the two generals, "Well, I have some wonderful news!"

March and Hatter glanced at each other then gazed back at their King. Cautiously, March asked, "What?"

Jabberwock's smile broadened as he stated blatantly, "I've decided to adopt Alice as my daughter."

There was a brief moment of disbelieving silence and then Hatter and March leapt up from their seats in horror. Hatter stared at him, "A-adopt as your daughter, b-b-but why?"

Alice broke free of Jabberwock's grasp and whirled to face him, "Adopt me? But…" She realized she could voice no objection. Her father had died when she was just a child, so she really couldn't say…

Jabberwock crossed his arms and glared at Hatter, "She reminds me of my own before I had to leave her. And, besides, I need company."

"B-b-but-" Hatter was lost for words.

Sighing, March asked, "What about your imagination problem, sir? I bet even you wouldn't want to go about devouring your… 'daughter's' every thought?"

Jabberwock froze, pondered this, and turned to Alice, " Alice, do you swear not to tempt me by imagining on purpose?"

Alice jerked out of her sullen thoughts and nodded, not really understanding the question.

Clapping his hands, Jabberwock grabbed Alice and hugged her, his cold flesh chilling hers, "I hereby appoint you my adopted daughter!" He released her and glanced at his awestruck generals, "And you are witnesses. Alice is a princess now." He narrowed his eyes.

Immediately, March and Hatter knelt, but Hatter muttered under his breath the whole way down.

Alice's mind reeled. A princess? But… she was just Alice, from earth, who liked Edgar Allen Poe stories and… She swooned, darkness taking her.

Jabberwock caught her and sniffed, "Guess she wasn't ready for that." Hefting her up, he gently carried her to her room and laid her on the bed. Silently closing the door, he paused, and then glared at the two, "Don't you have gallows duty?"

Stricken nods from the assassins.

"On your way, find a maid or something. The castle must know I have a princess now."