A/N: Dear readers, I'll admit to you that the inspiration has begun to falter. I LOVE this story and each of my readers, but with time being so limited in real life, I just can't keep up with the longer chapters.
Instead, I have been working on a set of drabbles inspired by songs. It's called "Songs of the Heart" and it's a challenge that I stole from futrCSI1490. Would you mind reading/reviewing that story as well? I think it will be easier for me to do that story for now since I can just write 1 page stories for each song as opposed to the 6-7 pages that each of these chapters are.
So, there's my long winded author note. Haven't had one of those in a while. I do hope you actually read it. Please enjoy this chapter. It's going back again to briefly touch on right after Tarrant's proposal and the wedding planning.
My first day as an engaged woman was strange. And not even for the fact that I was an engaged woman. But certainly no other lady could say that her engagement day went quite the same as mine. I looked back and realized just what a day it had been. I woke up thinking of Hatter and the conversation we had on the balcony. I found myself just wanting to have him hold me and tell me everything would be alright. But reality set in and I wandered down to the front courtyard to hear the Queen's proclamation. When I saw Tarrant try to accept the challenge of slaying the jabberwocky, my heart was gone. He had already risked so much for me and now he was trying to do it again. After finally realizing the truth about Underland with the help of Absolem, I understood that I needed to fight the jabberwocky, even for just Tarrant's sake.
The battle was fierce and I was saved once again by his bravery. When I didn't return to London, I knew that I was meant to be with Tarrant. The rest of the day was a blur of tea, diamonds, and kisses.
The kiss after our first kiss was much more … muchier. Before I knew what was happening, Tarrant was sitting on the ground and I was sitting on his lap, and we were kissing passionately. It made me even more thrilled to be in Underland, since at home, we would have been in such trouble!
Once we finally came up for air, I smiled and rested my head on Tarrant's chest.
"Hatter?"
"Yes, love?"
"Do we need to make some kind of announcement now?" I was hoping he'd say no since I hated drawing attention to myself.
"Not really. The queen already knows. She'll be spreading it around soon enough."
I pulled back to look at him. "The queen knows? Already?"
"Where do you think the ring came from? I asked to buy a ring and she insisted that I take one. I selected this one because of the special stones. The—"
"Sapphires for me and the emeralds for you. Our eyes," I interrupted.
"Got it in one."
"Well, it's beautiful. Though, how did she know I would say yes?"
He shrugged. "She said she just knew."
Of course. That really didn't shock me in the least.
"Well, good then. I get to keep you all to myself for now," I said, putting my head back on his chest.
Suddenly, he tensed.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Wrong? Why, nothing's wrong! In fact it's very right, very, very, very, right! Alice, I've just had the inspiration for the most beautiful hat! Oh, it's a lovely hat, if I do say so myself. And of course, I do say it, because I am myself. And who better to be myself, than myself? Unless of course –"
"Tarrant!"
"I'm fine. Thank you. But regardless, I must make you this hat!"
"What, now?"
"Yes, now! Right now!"
He gently moved me off his lap, stood hurriedly, and helped me to my feet.
"Come with me to my workshop! I must start this at once!"
He tugged on my hand and practically dragged me to his workshop. Once we arrived, he sat me in a chair and began working. I had never seen him work like this. The time in the Red Queen's castle, he was just sewing and surrounded by finished products. Now I was watching from start to finish. It was amazing to watch him work. His hands flew like they weren't even connected to his body. It was fascinating.
Before I even knew it, Tarrant was holding a beautiful green creation with the most delicate looking white flowers. It matched my dress perfectly.
"Tarrant! It's gorgeous!" I exclaimed.
He walked over to me and carefully placed it on my head.
"Well, it's not as gorgeous as its intended wearer. But it will do."
Hatter found a mirror and handed it to me. I couldn't help but smile at my very own Tarrant Hightopp design. And then I yawned.
Tarrant smiled. "Yes, I expected the day to catch up with you soon. And since you have no place to stay here in Underland, you shall stay with me in the house.
I paused. That rickety old thing?
He must have sensed how unsure I was and told me, "Not the windmill, I assure you. There is a house directly behind it."
I smiled. "Tarrant, I have trusted you with my life several times today. I can do it again with where I live."
He returned the smile and we left the workshop to borrow a carriage to his home.
"Cricket, I shall let you fix up the guest room to however you would like. I would love to let you stay with me, but that would not be proper as we aren't husband and wife yet. But I do love the sound of that, don't you? We should definitely start planning for our wedding, because to be honest, I wish you could stay with me tonight. Not that I would want to do anything naughty – well, if I'm being honest, I suppose I would want to – but I just want to keep you close as I only just got you back and –"
"Hatter…"
"Sorry, love. Thank you."
"Tomorrow we shall plan our wedding. But for now, I would like to rest. And as much as I would like to have you hold me tonight … well, I'm afraid that I'm very full of emotions right now. I'm not sure I would be able to stop anything we start."
My honesty caught him off guard and I saw his eyes go to yellow very quickly. Wanting to stop anything from getting worse, I put my hands on his face like I did at Salazen Grum.
"Darling…"
His eyes returned to his adorable green and he smiled.
"I believe tha' is th' first time yeh've called me tha', mo gradh."
"Well, it won't be the last, I'm sure." Then I paused. "Mo … gradh?"
"Aye, lass. Tis Outlandish, th' old language of meh clan. Means 'my love.'"
"I think it's beautiful. You'll have to teach me more of it. …Wait, is that the language you used when you were yelling at Chessur?"
He blushed. "Aye. Tis no' always a beautiful language."
I giggled a bit. "Well, perhaps not those words. But the rest of it I'm sure is lovely."
Tarrant grinned at me with that gap-toothed smile that made my heart melt. I think it pleased him to want to learn the language of his clan. He bent and kissed my forehead.
"I shall see yeh in th' morning, mo bhilis, my sweet."
"Sleep well, Tarrant. I love you, mo gradh."
He beamed even more now. "I love you, too, Alice. Good night."
I went into my new room, threw myself onto the bed and smiled brightly. I, Alice Kingsleigh, was an engaged woman. Engaged to a man from my Wonderland. Engaged to a mad hatter. And I couldn't have been happier.
The next day, after sleeping in well past lunch, Tarrant and I began thinking about our wedding. I personally didn't care what we did. We could get married at the castle, at the tea tables or standing on the body of the jabberwocky, I just wanted to get married. Well, maybe not that last one.
Tarrant agreed that he didn't care either. I began to wonder what we would do if no real decision would be made. Then there was a knock at the door.
I opened it to find Nivens there. "Hello, Nivens!" I said warmly. "Come in."
"Th-thank you, Alice," he replied, hopping in. "Good afternoon, Tarrant."
"McTwisp, a pleasure to see you! What brings you here?"
"Her majesty would like to speak to you both. She would like to discuss your upcoming nuptials. Congratulations, by the way."
"Thank you," Hatter and I said together.
Nivens smiled at us. "Would now be alright?"
"Yes, I believe so. Perhaps she can help us make some decisions," I answered.
"Oh, I know she has suggestions!" the white rabbit said.
I glanced to Tarrant, trying to gauge if he knew just how many suggestions we would be entertaining. He shrugged, answering my silent question.
We got into the carriage we borrowed the night before and rode to Mamoreal. When we arrived, the White Queen was waiting for us just outside the palace.
"Tarrant! Alice! I'm so glad you could come. I want to discuss your wedding day with you, if that's alright."
"Yes, your majesty, that sounds wonderful."
"Now, now, no need for so much formality. Come inside and we shall talk."
We followed her into what appeared to be her study.
"Please sit," she told us, gesturing to two chairs. "Would you like some tea?"
Tarrant and I both said yes and the queen nodded to a monkey behind us. He returned quickly and served the tea. The White Queen then sat behind her desk and became all business. Fun business, but business nonetheless.
"Now, I firstly want to offer you the castle for your venue. I was thinking out in the courtyard for the ceremony and then perhaps the reception out there as well. Or in the ballroom, which ever you prefer. Of course, the kitchen staff, musicians, etcetera would all be at your disposal as well. Thoughts?"
"It sounds lovely," I replied. "What do you think Tarrant?"
"Well, we have had some wonderful moments here. Our chat on the balcony, having my pride soar at seeing you ride the bandersnatch out the front gate, my proposal in the courtyard."
"Exactly! The courtyard! Oh, Alice, do say yes, please?" I couldn't believe the queen was begging me to have my wedding at the palace. How surreal.
"Yes, of course! It will be wonderful. I would love to have the ceremony in the same spot that Tarrant proposed."
I thought the queen was going to swoon. "How romantic! Now, Alice, do you have a dress in mind?"
"No, but I do have a style that I want."
Tarrant gave me a questioning look, but I just winked in reply. He would just have to wait to see it.
"Perfect. Tarrant, is there anything you'll be needing?" she asked.
"Not that I can think of, your majesty. Could I let you know if I think of something?"
"Absolutely. Do you have a date picked out?"
We shook our heads.
"Well, I do want this to be a grand affair and while I could whip something up in a jiffy, I would like some time. Say three weeks? No, no! Not even I can wait that long. Two. Will two weeks be fine?"
"Yes, of course!" I replied. It was sooner than I expected, but I was very pleased as well.
"Splendid! Now, obviously we'll be throwing a ball in your honor."
I almost spit my tea out. "A ball?"
Her laugh was like bells – bells that were mocking my dislike of formal dances. "Alice, Underland must rejoice. Our champion is engaged to be married to our royal hatter and hero. And you're staying in Underland. And you slayed the jabberwocky. Three excellent reasons to celebrate!"
"Well, yes. But you see, I've never been comfortable at such affairs. My mother—"
"Will not be throwing this ball. I assure you, Alice, this will be wonderful! I have so many ideas for that as well. But leave that to me. I want that to be a surprise. I shall have the royal dressmaker whip you up some ball gowns and you may choose what to wear. And as things come together for the wedding, we shall keep you posted and get your approval. If you think of anything you want, do not hesitate to ask."
She rose from her desk, obviously indicating that we were finished. We stood as well and she walked us out.
"Congratulations again. I am so happy for you!" She kissed each of us on the cheek and bid us farewell.
Nivens found us and informed us that we would be receiving our own carriage to take to and from Mamoreal. "Champions and heroes do not walk such distances," he informed us.
As we rode back home, I put my head on Tarrant's shoulder.
"This is fine with you, right? I don't want to do anything you don't want to, queen or not."
"Yes, cricket, everything is fine. It doesn't matter what the White Queen tosses in, as long as at the end of the day you are my wife. That's all that I'm concerned with. The rest is just details."
I leaned up and kissed him. "You really are my hero."
"And you really are my champion."
We snuggled the rest of the way home, anxiously awaiting the rest of our lives.
End note: Don't forget to check out my newest Alice/Hatter story "Songs of the Heart." Thanks!
