Hatter's POV

"You're not well enough!" the healer frowned but she handed me a worn gray tunic anyway.

"I have already taken enough of your time, plus Miss. Kingsley and I are terribly late for tea." My voice was smooth. I tugged the shirt over my head, ignoring the pan in my torso.

"You need to change your bandages once a day." She advised, handing me a basket of white gauze.

"Thank you so much." She had saved my life, and healed Alice. I lifted a heavy, jingling, pouch from my deep pocket. I withdrew several shining golden coins from it.

"These are for the horses" I told her and handed them to her. Before she could object I pulled a silver coin from the pouch and gave her those as well. "And for the clothing" I continued on. Pulling bronze coins from my satchel "for healing me" and then I grabbed a handful of currency. "For Alice."

"No, no, no! I cannot take these! It's too much! I will accept two shillings and not a pence more!" she tried to hand them back to me but I smiled and held my hands up to prevent her action.

"Hatting is a good business and I can spare this" I shrugged modestly. In truth I had gotten the money from the White Queen. She had no use for Above currency and there was an abundance of it in the Royal vault. At that moment Alice moved over to us. Her long golden hair was twirled into a bun on the top of her head. She wore a long brown traveling coat over a laced sky blue gown. My heart thundered as it always did when Alice was near.

"We shouldn't go…" she sighed looking longingly around the warm living room.

"But we must" I held my arm out for her and she took it, blushing lightly. Her touch kept me sane. I had to resist the urge to take her other hand in mine. It was unproper.

We stepped out of the warm house. The horse was waiting for us outside. He shook his long white mane, pawing the ground. Without further ado I lifted Alice by her waist and set her on the Gypsy horse. I swung a leg over the beautiful beast and sat in front of her. Her arms wrapped around me automatically.

"Thank you" she looked at the elderly women, whose name I never did learn. When we finally got moving I was grateful for the saddle, it helped eliminate the jostle of the horse. My side still hurt but with Alice's delicate arms around me I could barely feel it.

Her cheek rested against my back and I knew she could hear my heart racing. My cheeks warmed at the thought. Her breathing was steady as I urged the horse forward. Her hands pressed against my chest as she clung to me.

"Put your feet in the stirrups. It will help you keep your balance." I instructed in a low voice. I felt her nod and her bare legs moved forward, pressing against mine. Her dress had fallen backward and she wasn't wearing stockings.

"Thank you.. Tarrant" her voice was soft. Her arms didn't loosen even though she was secure.

"I wont let you fall" I told her after a few moments.

"I know." She squeezed me.

"Oh" I blushed again.

We rode onward. The trip was going to take a week so the heavy saddle bags were full of food. The sky had grayed and the air was cold.

Snow began to fall from the sky, coating Alice and I in a white layer of fluff. Her breathing was steady and I knew she had fallen asleep, listening to my heartbeat. I rode onward even though weariness pulled on my eyes.

The lovely Alice stirred sleepily. "Hatter?"

"Yes, Alice?" I couldn't help but smile at the tired mumble.

"Is it snowing?" she was half asleep still.

"Yes it is."

She was silent once more but didn't fall back asleep.


-makes a sleepy face- Sorry this will be all for the next few days, but I promise that you will get an extra long chapter Saturday or Sunday