Alice woke but did not want to open her eyes. She could feel the ghost-touch of him, holding her, kissing her. She did not want to wake, and find that it was all a dream.
Then she realized that the feel of his embrace was not a dream. She still wore his coat, and he'd wrapped his arms around her midsection underneath it. These sensations were very much real, and they were much too close for this to be proper.
Since when did I care if things were proper? Alice thought. She sighed and snuggled closer to him. Still asleep, Tarrant drew his arms tighter around her. The feeling of his breath on her skin sent chills down her back.
"Are they suppose to be doing that?" Alice heard a voice ask. She dismissed it, thinking she was just drifting into another dream, when she heard a another, scolding voice. "Aleia! Don't stare. It's rude."
Her eyes snapped open. She tried to see who was talking but her vision was restricted by high collar of Tarrant's coat.
Her sudden movement woke up Tarrant. They withdrew from each other and stood up. Tarrant automatically stood in front of her. She still hadn't gotten a good look at who or what had awakened them. She snuck a look over Tarrant's shoulder, and her blood ran cold.
A Jabberwocky.
No, not just one. Two Jabberwockys, large as life, just standing there.
Then one of them asked, "Are you Alice Kingsleigh and Tarrant Hightopp?"
"Are you Alice Kingsleigh and Tarrant Hightopp?" He asked again, impatiently.
Tarrant's eyes swirled with orange and yellow. He was put on edge by their presence, and confused by why they hadn't been attacked yet. "Who wants to know?" He asked cautiously.
"We are under orders to escort you to the township of Beyond." The Jabberwocky said.
Tarrant frowned. "I'm afraid that we shall not be accompanying you today."
"There is not a choice." The Jabberwocky replied. "You must either come willingly, or by force. Believe what you like, but we would much prefer it if you came willingly."
Alice was finally able to get her mouth to speak. "Tarrant, it might be better for us in the short run to simply go with them willingly." She told him quietly. His eyes bordered on red. Tarrant didn't want to go anywhere with these Jabberwockys. He wanted to attack them, Vorpal sword or not. But he did not risk leaving Alice to these creatures on her own.
"Alright then." He finally said, begrudgingly. "We will go with you to Beyond, wherever it is."
One of the Jabberwockys nodded and turned westwards. Tarrant started walking in the same direction. Alice started to follow, but wavered as lightheadedness hit her. Tarrant grabbed her arm before she fell. "Alice, are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm just-" She shut her eyes, trying to will away her dizziness. "I haven't had a lot to eat in the last few days. I was alright until just now."
Tarrant searched his pockets for some scone or pastry he'd been saving for later. He found a half-eaten teacake. After eating the slightest crumb to be sure it wasn't upelkuchen, handed it to Alice. "Sorry, it's not much, but I think I'll tide you over until we get where we're going."
Alice gratefully took the teacake and quickly ate it.
"We really ought to be going." The Jabberwocky said.
They walked, with one Jabberwocky in the front and one in the back, Alice and Tarrant sandwiched between them.
"I'm Aleia, by the way. That's my father, Malohkeh." Said the one behind them.
Alice was unsure of what to say. "Hello?" She tried.
"You're Alice, right?" Aleia asked. "You look like the descriptions I heard about, but all you humans look the same to me. Did you really slay the Nameless One?"
"Aleia!" Malohkeh scolded. "Such morbid thoughts do not befit a lady."
"Sorry, father." Aleia said.
"What do you mean by the Nameless One?" Alice asked.
"The Jabberwocky that the Red Queen had." Malohkeh answered. "She never bothered to give him a name because she thought he was the only Jabberwocky left."
"Ever since he was taken, no Jabberwock under the age of fifty was allowed to leave Beyond without an adult." Aleia said. She added under her breath. "Unless you sneak off without anyone knowing."
Alice bit her lip to keep from laughing, despite her fear of the animal. Perhaps humans and Jabberwockys were not so different.
Tarrant walked alongside Alice this whole time, not uttering a word. He was thinking. What do the Jabberwockys want with me? I know why they'd want Alice, as much as I hate to think about it. But why me? If they wanted revenge for the death of that Jabberwocky, surely they could have slaughtered Alice and I right where we stood. Or, rather where we sat. Where I sat, with Alice. I wonder if she would let me kiss her again. She was the one who kissed me first. If she hadn't fallen asleep, I wonder if we would have…
No, mustn't think of my Alice like that. I mustn't. Think about why the Jabberwockys want you and Alice.
Alice noticed that Tarrant wore the same strange expression on his face as the night before. She noticed that his eyes took on a almost purple shade. She took his arm. He didn't notice.
"Tarrant?" She tried.
"I'm fine." He said automatically. It took him a moment that Alice was holding his arm captive, and yet another moment that she had used his proper name again.
"You called me Tarrant." He said to her.
"Do you mind me calling you Tarrant?" She asked.
"No." He said. "Actually, no. I don't mind it at all." He smiled at her, and she returned it.
"Good." She said.
Behind them, Aleia rolled her eyes. They are sooo obvious. She thought. Why do mammals have to be so coy about how they feel about each other?
Okay, I am really, really sorry for not updating my story! It's been, what, over a month? I'm really sorry! Why did you guys think of this chapter? Please review!