Fic: Of Tea & Chess

Rating: R

Summary: Alice & Hatter travel back to Wonderland for innocent reasons and discover that there is no such thing as coincidence.

Author's Note: I decided I should get this one out before the premiere of Burton's Alice in Wonderland. That and it is Wednesday after all...I'm so glad you guys liked the last chapter. It was one of my favs to write.


Chapter 36: Growing Unease

The White Queen sat in a low wicker chair on the balcony of the Heart Palace, the Royal Sceptre lying on her lap untouched. Here, at the utmost rear of the Royal Apartments, was some solitude at last. There were no Knights scurrying around, shepherding the Red King's latest influx of prisioners, nor was there constant sound of Wonderland all around. Wonderland throbbed with life, almost singing with the sound of constant activity, and now that the Red King had taken to destroying parts of Wonderland City, that hum was distorted into broken electricity and screaming prisoners. She had come here for some quiet, for a chance to think, and had been here since the very early morning when the dawn was still hours away. Unable to rest, she found that there was an unexpected tension gathering in her body that made her feel uneasy. She was feeling things again, emotions once more playing havoc with her mind. Emotions she had long forgotten, ones that she had never felt so intensely. Not for the first time, she felt a niggle of self doubt at the wisdom of stealing Alice's mark.

The snow and winds were no longer blowing around her, though the chill in the air should have warranted a heavy cloak or blanket. After the dirt and grime of travelling from the Taiga to the City, she had changed into a dark blue gown, the material gauzy and almost completely transparent. Despite her misgivings over the Red King's lusts, the dress was still backless. The gryphon mark, furious at its capture, would not tolerate being hidden and her back ached from the constant movement of the mark. Who would have known that a simple mark would do such a thing? When a mark from any other Oyster would have lain still and compliant under her power. It should have submitted to the more powerful Taiga magic.

She could have been a statue for all that she moved, staring out across the city with her face fixed in a blank expression. Her silvery hair had been tied tight away from her face, pulling her skin just as taut. Even with her stillness, the Crows guarding her from either side of the balcony doors knew better. Something was going on. They were badly shaken from her threat earlier, having never seen her so angry before. They only knew in part what their brothers had done back at the White Manor, knew that it had to do with this threat to the Queen. What they did know for certain was that she was not about to be crossed.

The White Queen was thinking of the girl Alice, the girl who bore the name she had once been called when she had been an Oyster new to this world. This world that she had changed and created to become a better place before that ridiculous Queen of Hearts had found Archibades' weakness and sapped out the majority of her own magic with an old relic. The girl's name struck a vicious yet nostalgic chord in the White Queen. Alice. The girl looked nothing like she herself, nothing like the legends she had cultivated over the years would have suggested. She had no noble upbringing, no fair beauty to the Queen's eyes. No obvious powers, nothing of what legends could be carved upon. Yet she had had the loyalty of a King of Wonderland and had had the devotion of a Hatter.

Those two things had been something she had worked for herself and lost in the end.

This Alice Hamilton should be dead yet something was making her more powerful than anticipated. She bore no great imagination, no great strength, the Queen had thought. But now the Queen was realizing that she may have underestimated the girl. The girl and that strange glow and feeling that emanated from her. When the White Queen had first felt Alice enter the Taiga, it had been almost weak. But then she had touched that strange gryphon mark, saw the emotion and power that had shined from the girl's eyes, and knew that there was more to this girl than met the eye. That something had happened to dull it but that it was still there. Her Cheshire had underestimated the girl and would pay dearly for it if he did not make amends.

Alice the First remembered bitterly the day years ago when she had decided to stay in Wonderland. She had realized the power she had the first time she had stepped through as just a child and toppled the House of Cards like it was no more than a game. Then, returning as a woman, she had known it was her destiny to rule Wonderland and its strange magic when she had won that glorious and deadly Chess Game. She had taken the White Queen's place with no thought as to her family; the idea of being a Queen in a time when a girl such as she would be insignificant in her own world had made her realize that she was making the right choice. Then the trap of the Taiga, of her marriage to the young White King, had ensnared her, increasing her bitterness until the birth of Thyme. Then her happiness with her daughter Thyme had been cut short by that damn Hatta and the old Mad Hatter.

Hatta, a man she had once thought to love until she realized that there was no chance to further her skill in magic, to rule Wonderland as she believed her right, when she remained the lover of a Hatta. What magic did they have beyond some old Taiga magic that was inferior to the mix of Oyster and Taiga Magic? Then the blasted man had let his family betray her, murder her daughter, to let his own stupid boy live. Oh, and she had had her revenge on him and his old mad father. Yet it had brought no happiness to her to do so.

The only thing that would make her happy was when Wonderland was back to her vision, her old memory of it.

Finally, she cleared her throat and looked down at the Sceptre, taking in the golden shaft crowned by the sapphires that gleamed brilliant in the light. Sapphires so pure and the twisted horn that made up its base reminding her of that day when the Unicorn had protected her from the Lion. Tempted by her innocence at the time, the Unicorn had offered her to give a gift in return, anything she liked, and had given his horn willingly when she had asked for it. The Sceptre, something she had not seen in years, lay in her hands once more. It had not changed from all those years ago, the tiny carved notch for the Stone of Wonderland reminding her of the necessity for capturing the King of Hearts. For what she needed to do, the Stone was rather necessary. The White Queen twisted the bottom of the Sceptre and felt it hum to life. Smiling, she untwisted it and it went to sleep once more.

It would change the very world of Wonderland with her power behind it when the girl was finally dead.

"Here I was, hoping for your company at breakfast," Archibades said as he approached her from behind. The Crows stayed their usual stoic selves, eyes darting just slightly to keep an eye on the Red King though respecting his power. Archibades stepped behind the White Queen's chair. He was relieved that the Cheshire had disappeared, likely to sulk at his mistress' anger with him.

"Perhaps I need to remember my etiquette when it comes to socializing," she drawled, looking back up at the city horizon.

"Indeed..." Archibades put his hand out and traced it slowly down the back of her neck. Had he been able to see her face he may have retracted his hand. "My sources have let me know that Jack Heart was seen exiting the Underground. That Alice girl was with him."

"So he is more clever than expected," she murmured, clicking her tongue. "Especially in retaining her help."

"And you wish to just wait? My men could have him and his companions," Archibades began and she shook her head, ignoring the feel of his hand on her neck.

"No. If he is bringing the girl, I can use her. I want to know why she still lives without the mark and the glow that I drained from her. Then you can have your fun destroying him as well," she said. Her voice was persuasive and he smiled.

"You know how I like traditionalisim. Kingships were once won on the blades of swords, not by magic and traps. You know me well, my Queen," he said and his hand traced lower along her shoulder blades. "Though not as well as you should...or how I would like."

She snorted. "Even after all these years, Archibades, you still like to lust after things you cannot break. That Duchess is still alive, no matter what you have done to her. Still alive and still fighting you."

"Not for long. She's started to turn to a statue, the way that most do when my power holds them too long," he admitted. "She will not fight for long. But I will have her how I want her when Jack Heart arrives."

"Poor child," the White Queen answered without any sincerity. His fingers were trying to be seductive though it sent her skin crawling. She had never liked Archibades. Not for any real reason save that his power, given to him by her, could match her own if he put his mind to it. It was better to keep him afraid.

"When Wonderland is ours, when the Sceptre gives the power to change it to our plans, then we can unite the Houses of the Taiga," he offered and she sniffed. His finger slipped between her shoulders and the gryphon mark stirred from where it had settled beneath her skin. Then, of all things, it seemed to actually bite him. She heard him yell out a slew of Wonderland curses and yank his hand away.

"Something wrong?" she asked without turning and he stalked around to the railing before her.

"That mark is alive!" he said in shock and she glanced over her shoulder. The mark was burning her back again, agitated and she winced at the feel of it.

"So it is."

His eyes almost burned red. "Oyster marks are supposed to die when you take them, from what you taught me."

"This one did not," she answered simply. Archibades looked her over. He knew what she was, had known for many years that she was an Oyster turned Wonderlander. When he had met her at first he had thought to destroy her but she had overwhelmed him. She had taken him in after the death of Thyme, asked him to help her find her vengeance against Wonderland, given him magic when no one else would. Even after his utter defeat from the Queen of Hearts their alliance had proved a nostalgic connection that allowed them to plan for the time when they could come back to power.

"What is it that you are not telling me? Why is this girl's mark different? Why is she still alive even?" he asked. She flicked her hand, a hand still marked by the checkerboard tattoo she had been given years ago, and gave him a disdainful look.

"She is an Alice. Likely this very world thought she would be something of value. It was wrong. I felt her power. It is not like ours and it is from her emotions. All that is needed is to make her weak," she explained. Archibades arched a brow. "We need to tread carefully with her."

He mulled it over for a moment.

"The death of her friends, perhaps?" he asked and she smiled.

"Perhaps." Her smile died. "Has anyone reported on the Hatter?"

"Not yet. He disappeared. All of our spies report that they never see him when you would think he would be with them," Archibades answered. "Yet he survived, we have to assume."

"And if he is as infatuated with this Alice as Chesh claims, then he would not be far from her, even in his madness," the White Queen said to herself, tapping her finger on her chin. "Something else is shielding him if he is with them. An illusion maybe."

She thought back to Alice, to having trapped her in the Manor where the only people who would have access to her would be the Examiners and the Crows. And ghosts.

Ghosts. Particularily the ghost of a man whose son she was set out to kill.

"Grey. You would dare defy me even in death, despite what you claimed at one time," she whispered to herself and Archibades gave her a curious look. She straightened in her seat, remembering that he did not know of her brief love affair with Hatta. That was best kept in the dark. "When I had Grey Hatta executed, his ghost haunted the White Manor. If it was still there and the Hatter was the one who saved Alice, then some old magic could have attached itself to this Hatter."

Archibades absorbed this, confused but wary. He had once thought, like many before him, that the Hatter family was void of anything magical or clever beyond their rhyming, but after his run-in with Hatter, he knew that that was not the case.

"Then we could use this," he declared. "If we separate them, the Alice will be without her support of her lover. If they are in love, then both will be weak and terrified for one another. Whatever power she has may be directed to other things, so that we can use her."

The White Queen thought it over before nodding finally. "An excellent idea. But what if it doesn't work?"

"Then we kill them both and use the Sceptre without the added power she carries."

Standing at the very end of the tunnel path, Alice and Charlie peered around the edges of the sewer grate. Hatter and the Knave had gone first, slipping through the narrow iron bars and disappearing around the corner of the old decayed ruins of a one-time monastery. Behind them, Jack was adjusting the saddle bags. Dodo had left them ten minutes ago, ridiculed by Jack's rejection of his type of help. There was no trusting Dodo, but Jack had accepted that the people who had escaped from the Red King would be safe under his leadership.

Alice felt him at her shoulder. "Are they back yet?" he whispered in her ear and she shook her head.

"Not yet. How far is it?" Alice asked.

"Less than a mile. It's the ledges we have to skip over that may be the problem, but we are nearly right into the main courtyard of the Palace," Jack explained, slipping Guinevere's reins into her hand. Charlie sniffed.

"I prefer the wilds," he said and Alice nodded.

"I'm with you there, Charlie. You'll let me know if you feel anything there?" she asked, suddenly meeting his eyes. Charlie blinked, startled at the request.

"From my mystical abilities to peer into the unknown?" he asked. Alice nodded. "But of course!"

He seemed so delighted at her request that he puffed himself up a bit and turned to Arthur. Jack smiled and shook his own head before looking at Alice. She seemed stronger today, still a bit quiet and distant but stronger. Nothing had bothered her, not Dodo's sly comments about her and Hatter, nor the matter of Hatter having disappeared sometime during the night to check back on the path they had come from. Jack found himself just as unworried by Hatter's actions, having learned to trust the younger man in some matters.

Hatter had said he had something to check and had come back with a relieved look to his face that was curious but thankfully normal. The Knave had merely shrugged, just as confused as the rest of them, but Hatter did not seem to notice their slight suspicions. To him it was perfectly normal to wander off, and considering his personality, that hardly surprised Jack at all.

The pair appeared suddenly outside of the grate, dusted with snow and frost. Hatter had pulled his hat low over his eyes, squinting at the bright sunlight, while the Knave was coughing. Their shoulders were almost covered in snow, the thick carpet just outside the grating nearly to their calves. Jack flipped his collar up against the chill and nodded to the Knave.

"How's it look?" he asked lowly.

"Well..."

"Beyond bleedin' cold?" Hatter asked, cupping his hands together and blowing his breath over them. "Feels like the temperature dropped the moment we got to the courtyard."

"Snow is covering signs but luckily, it'll also cover our tracks. We can get through the ruins if we really move it fast, but the courtyard will be tricky. We'll need to scout it out again," the Knave explained and Charlie gave a grunt, flexing his knees.

"My armour will rust," he said and Hatter glanced at him.

"We're all out of oil, tin man," he commented and Alice blinked. This had nearly hit the point of being too strange.

"A shame that," Charlie said as he jingled his chain mail into place, "I think I shall need a new set soon."

Hatter passed him through the grate, smiling at Alice in greeting before taking Guinevere's reins. "Are you sure that wasn't twenty years ago?"

Jack rolled his eyes while mounting his gelding.

"Hatter, be nice to Charlie," Alice commented and he grinned at her while tightening the girth.

"Always, luv," he answered.

"Well, it could be worse," Charlie commented without thinking. "I could be wearing some gaudy hat and shirt with flowers on it."

Hatter stiffened, looking at Charlie in confusion while Alice and the Knave struggled to keep their laughter low. "Did he just..." Hatter began.

Alice clasped his chin in her hand and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "He did, you deserved it, now let's get out of here."

The kiss had only distracted him only so much and she took advantage of it to climb into the saddle first. He stared up at her, mouth still half-open, while Alice grinned and adjusted the stirrups to fit her.

"You're drivin'?" he asked and she stared back at him.

"Yes."

"Right..." Hatter looked at where the others were still adjusting their saddles to fit more comfortably. "Can I ride with one of the others then?"

Alice glared at him but there was no heat in her eyes. He held her glare just as stoically and she finally smiled. "Get on the damn horse."

He was grinning like a fool, glad to have made her smile, when he pulled himself up behind her. The Knave slid the grating to the side and gestured the others through, the horses snorting at the sight of the deep snow. When he had closed it behind him, he took the lead again while Hatter and Alice took the rear on Guinevere. Alice shivered at the cold wind that penetrated even the thick overcoat she wore, feeling Hatter press closer against her from behind to keep himself warm as well. His breath brushed the back of her neck.

"You see, this is why Wonderland is not so fond of winter," he said in her ear as she steered Guinevere around to the ledges and she nodded.

"Especially unnatural ones," she answered. The Knave suddenly pressed his horse into a trot, a tricky gait considering the slippery ground, and they moved quickly through the ruins. Hatter muttered against Alice's neck at the uncomfortable nature of bouncing on his horse's hindquarters and she smiled to herself for a moment. Then the cold wind grew harsh and made her head ache, forcing the smile from her face.

"How far is it?" she asked Hatter as Guinevere righted herself after tripping.

"Few more turns. Be ready to pull her to a stop," Hatter warned. They came to a ledge that led downwards and the mare slid slowly down after Charlie and Arthur. Charlie was deathly pale but Arthur was moving easily enough, clearly unconcerned by the slippery slope.

The building that loomed before them was high and painted a brilliant yellow that nearly hurt the eyes. The Knave held up his hand and the horses slowed. Alice barely had time to bring Guinevere to a stop, the mare pinning her ears when she collided with the rear of Arthur. Hatter made an 'oof' sound and tightened his arms around Alice again, eyes nearly crossing when his groin met the rear of the saddle with more far more force than he thought possible.

He grunted again.

"Alice," he whispered in a high pitched voice, grimacing before he gave her sides a hard squeeze. "I drive next time."

She glanced over her shoulder at him and frowned, not getting it. Hatter sighed, glancing up at the Knave and seeing the other man carefully sliding from his horse. The Knave seemed exhausted by even that ride and Hatter knew that the 2 storey fall he had suffered back in the White Manor was having its effect. The King's man had insisted he was fine, but he was ignoring the internal damage that should have killed him. Damage Hatter could see obviously taking its effect on him now. Hatter jumped off of Guinevere and helped Alice off as the Knave left his horse with Jack and disappeared around the corner of the building.

Jack and Charlie both dismounted, Hatter helping Charlie adjust his armour properly from where it had become flipped or jostled by the ride. Alice crept up beside Jack and gave him a questioning look.

"We're close to the first courtyard of the Palace. Leads to the entrance to the grounds," he explained as he dug into his saddlebag, checking on their weapons. Alice put her own hand on the dagger strapped to her waist nervously.

"It's so quiet," she remarked and Jack nodded.

"Which is what worries me." He whirled when they heard the sound of pounding feet but it was the Knave, who almost collapsed at their feet before leaning against the building wall.

"Twenty guards, armed," the Knave gasped out. Alice and Jacked exchanged worried looks.

"If we sneak to the west walls a few buildings over, we can get around," Jack explained but the Knave shook his head gravely.

"It would cost us too much time, sire."

"Even a sacrifice play would never work," Alice whispered. Hatter, watching the interaction, gave a slow smile and turned to Charlie.

"You still got that spare scabbard?" he asked and Charlie frowned, the puzzled Knight handing over the spare one clipped to his belt. Hatter smiled his thanks and turned it over, holding it between his teeth and ripping the worn wood and leather with his right hand. It hollowed out the scabbard further from end to end and Alice and Jack looked at each other in confusion. Hatter grinned in delight at his work and moved over to the ledge again.

He held the scabbard up and pressed it so that it formed a cylinder, putting his mouth over one of the open ends. He clicked his tongue to the roof of his mouth and then gave a whistle so piercing that it made the others wince. The sound carried shrill and loud and Jack rubbed at his ears in irritation.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?"Alice asked as she cupped her hands over her ears. Hatter gave her a cheeky grin and walked back to them, the bizarre scene making them all look at one another. Hatter paused at the look on their faces.

"No one ever wondered how Guin and I got back to the Manor so quickly? No one?" he asked, sounding disappointed while they all gave him a look that said he was clearly still insane. The Knave looked up and choked on a cough as something green and grey came barrelling out of the sky like a dropped ball. Hatter seemed ignorant of it, scratching at his cheek. "I mean, I am good - and I mean good - at cheating at chess, but I'm not able to completely fool the Taiga."

A large Jabberwock suddenly alighted just behind him with a suitable grunt and they all backed, frozen with fear. Its head waggled back and forth behind Hatter, the strange eyes twisting left and right. Hatter still seemed unaware of it.

"What's wrong with you lot?" he asked in confusion and Jack swallowed.

"That's a...a..." Jack broke off when it stepped menacingly behind Hatter, opening its jaw half-way. Charlie squawked, his hand going to his side over his sword hilt. Around them, the horses were all staring at the Jabberwock with wide rolling eyes but Guinevere simply yawned and stamped a hoof behind Alice.

"By Phinius and Phateon," Charlie muttered. "Why do I never have my lance when I need it?"

"Hatter...don't...don't make any sudden moves. There's a...a..." Alice tried and Hatter gave her a puzzled frown before a look of dawning realization crossed over his face. He jerked his thumb behind himself.

"Who? Her? It's a Jabberwock. Got into a tussle with her back in the Kingdom of Knights after I recovered from the madness. Ten gruelling minutes later and a few strikes to that snout of her, she backed off. The old girl kept following me around like a dog after that."

He saw the Knave trying to load a gun.

"You don't need to do that. She's a strong one, so you won't stand a chance with a gun. Good thing she was strong, had to get her to pick Guin up as well as me. Remember how we couldn't take the Flamingos, 'cause we would have been seen? Well, no one looks for a Jabberwock." He beamed at them like an excited child proud of his new puppy. "I named her Suzy."

The creature seemed to purr at the name, lowering its head and snaking it around Hatter. He grinned and scratched at its eye ridges roughly, the Jabberwock's long tongue sliding out as it grumbled happily. Jack recovered enough to point at the pair.

"You...you mean to tell us, that you tamed a Jabberwock, got it to fly you over the Taiga, trained it to come to a whistle." Jack stared at him. "And you called that thing...'Suzy' ?"

Hatter gave him a delighted smile. "Yeah. Of course."

"I think that you maybe just as mad as we first worried," the Knave stated from where he was standing behind Alice and Charlie. Hatter shrugged, not insulted.

"Seems rather like it. If I hadn't been, I'd probably be Jabberwock food. Good think it worked, eh?" Hatter retorted before turning to the Jabberwock. "She's a lovely girl, ain't you?"

The creature purred louder, shifting happily under his hand. It lifted its head when Alice stepped away from the others, the purr dying as it stared at her. Alice swallowed the lump in her throat and moved slowly towards Hatter. Hatter grinned encouragingly, holding his hand out and waggling his fingers impatiently for her to take it. Alice slipped her hand in his and he drew her close even though the Jabberwock had lifted its head further. The ugly snout let out a blast of hot air that sent Alice's frozen clothing tight around her body. Ignoring it, Hatter helped Alice touch the ridge of the strange face and then up to the eyelids. The creature's eyes whirled slightly and Alice firmed her touch just a bit, hearing a faint rumble coming from the Jabberwock just before it pressed its head into her hand.

"She...she seems to like me," Alice whispered to Hatter, feeling him step protectively behind her. He smiled and leaned closer to her, his mouth brushing her ear.

"Probably smells me on you," he whispered. She blushed but realized that he wasn't just trying to be seductive when the Jabberwock looked at Charlie and growled. The White Knight sniffed in disdain.

"Still best as a stuffed mantel piece," he muttered irritably and the other two silently agreed. Hatter cleared his throat, letting go of Alice's hand and pushing her gently to the side.

"So, I was thinkin' that we let Suzy have her fun," he declared, going the beast a hearty clap on her leathery shoulder. The Jabberwock perked up and the pair of them disappeared around the bend of the building. Still rather shocked about what had happened, they all waited for a minute until there was a loud thump nearby. Roaring began and Alice scrambled onto Guinevere, not waiting for the others before clipping her heels hard into the mare's side.

She pulled the mare to a hard stop though when they came in view of the courtyard. The Jabberwock was, actually, having fun. The Red King's Knights had once been Suits and had long been told to fear Jabberwocks. Clearly it was something that stayed with them and they were terrified of the dragon-like beast barrelling through the courtyard like a demon. Hatter had taken a seat on an overturned wagon, swinging his legs back and forth while he rolled his hat from hand to hand over his shoulders. He was whistling to himself, occasionally grabbing a Knight that fell nearby and giving it a hard enough blow to knock it out. The Jabberwock lumbered around the courtyard, tossing the Knights like dolls here and there.

Alice carefully rode Guinevere beside Hatter, the mare used to the Jabberwock by now and unconcerned by its antics. Jack followed, his horse dancing nervously about. Hatter was watching around himself, whistling off-key and he flipped his fedora back onto his head.

"Hatter," Jack said suddenly, holding out his hand as he came beside the younger man. Hatter looked at the left hand cautiously, clearly thinking something else when Jack gave him a shrug. "Thank you."

The two men shared a look before Hatter took Jack's hand in his right and shook it. "Don't mention it, Jackie-boy."

The nickname was there to stay, Alice thought, when Jack sighed and then shrugged it off. He didn't seem as irritated as he once would have been. Hatter was watching the Jabberwock toying about, picking up Knights and shaking them back and forth. He looked as fascinated as he had been when Alice had introduced him to Saturday morning cartoons in her world. Alice watched the Jabberwock, tipping her head on the side.

"You know, there is one way that this would seem strange...er." The two men looked at her. "I mean, Hatter could be talking to the Jabberwock in her type of language."

"That would be stranger. But I wouldn't doubt it to happen, considering him," Jack agreed and Hatter shot Alice a look.

"Don't help him think up smart cracks, luv." Alice gave him an innocent look and smiled. Behind her, Guinevere stamped her foot impatiently. The horse seemed annoyed at staying so still now and Alice saw Charlie and the Knave sneaking up as well. When she turned around, it took her a moment before realizing that they were standing in the shadow of the Heart Palace. This had been one place she had never been and it was strange to take it in after the almost British looks of the White Manor. The Palace had been built to seem like a higher class version of the Hearts' Casino. It had the same twisted and oddly stacked levels, massive glass windows and brightly polished beams and support struts dividing the levels. It was immense, Alice craning her neck back and still not able to see the roof.

"This is...incredible," Alice admitted lowly. This building had a weird beauty in its different levels and glass windows.

"Houses nearly all of the Court, Cards and nobles, and several citizens in the lower levels. Took my family years to rebuild after the Wars," Jack said with obvious pride.

Hatter watched Suzy the Jabberwock for a moment longer before clearing his throat.

"Right then." He slipped off the overturned wagon and whistled again. The Jabberwock perked up for a moment, stared at Hatter while still holding an unconscious Knight in its talons. Hatter looked over the scene, the Knights staggering about in shock and then shrugged. He turned away from the Jabberwock and with an almost human glee she went back to tossing them around. "I don't see reason to upset her, eh?"

"I suppose not," the Knave said, still not comfortable about the ferocious creature lumbering around. Charlie went to say something and he nudged him, shaking his head at the White Knight to silence him.

"Short jaunt through this. We can take the side ledges and we'll make it into the servant's quarters," Jack said as he pulled himself up onto his horse. Alice went to do the same, meeting Hatter's eyes over Guinevere's back. He arched his brow at her and she glared at him.

"What is it with men wanting to drive?" she asked grudgingly.

"One of my flaws, luv. You love me all the same," he answered with a smile as he mounted first.

"So I have to keep remembering," she teased back as she adjusted her coat around herself to ward off the wind. He rolled his eyes and then pulled her up behind him. Alice settled close to him and looked over her shoulder. The Knights were trying to regroup and the Jabberwock was flapping about in the air.

"She'll be okay?" Alice asked, shocking herself. Why on earth was she so concerned about a creature that only weeks before would have been trying to kill her? God, she was starting to think like a Wonderlander.

"Oh sure. Likely will lead them on a merry chase. Jabberwocks don't like fightin' that much to stick around if the odds are bad."

He reined Guinevere after Jack's horse and they cantered across the snow-covered courtyard, the horses straining in the deep snow. Guinevere's gait was more up and down now as she surged through the snow, Alice bouncing uncomfortably hard on her back. Hatter found handling his horse easier though and there was less stumbling with him at the reins. Alice focussed on the back of his head, not daring to look down as they passed to a ledge that ran narrowly along the side of the Palace. They were going faster than she liked, the narrow ledge seeming to grow smaller and smaller and they were going up and down so fast that she eventually squeezed her eyes shut and wait for her stomach to stop tossing.

Hatter was glad that he was used to Guinevere when Jack suddenly slowed his horse, causing all of them to stop suddenly. Jack was off his horse, pressing against the wall carefully. Hatter followed suit, helping Alice down with him when he saw her deathly white face.

"Come on, darlin'. It's over." He held her close to him as he pressed against the ledge wall.

"I think I might be sick," Alice whispered against his chest and he sighed.

"Hold it in for now, just focus on me."

"We're about three doors down from the service entrance," Jack said as he began to side step down, his back pressed tight against the wall. "Just don't look down."

"What about the horses?" Charlie piped out, giving Arthur a concerned look. Jack paused, not having been prepared for that, but the Knave leaned out.

"They can get around to the other side near the rear of the Palace. That way they can distract the Knights that may be there."

Jack nodded and clapped his hand hard on his horse's haunch, the horse springing off quickly with the others following. They waited for them to disappear down one of the ledges before side-stepping along the ledge, Jack swinging open the service door cautiously. He poked his head in and then waved his hand at them before disappearing through the door.

They followed him, the sudden warmth of the small room almost blissful after the biting cold of the winds. Hatter dusted off his coat and hat, shaking his shoulders. "That is a mite bit better," he said aloud and Alice silently agreed with him. Without the constant wind, it was almost tolerable. She pulled her gloves off and shook out her coat quickly, hearing Charlie and the Knave doing the same behind her when they stepped in.

"Oh, sweet relief," Charlie muttered.

"How far away from the entrance are we?" Hatter asked as he adjusted the gun holster on his hip.

Jack wiped his hand across his mouth, looking around the dull room. "Few minutes at a run, maybe. If we're lucky, they've taken up residence in the rear of the palace."

He moved through the crowded room, which was stacked high with boxes, blankets, and light fixtures of all sizes, and went to a black door. He cracked it open slightly and looked into the hall. It was empty, the lights dimmed and there was only a trace of red mist about. Knowing his palace as well as he did, Jack had to assume that the main part of the palace, the intricate living-rooms and the large cavern-like areas where strategy was planned, would be the focal point.

Looking over his shoulder at the others, he put his fingers to his lips and slipped out the door quietly. They kept close behind him, the Knave taking up the rear and making sure that Charlie didn't linger. They reached the corridor, still pressing against the moulding. When Jack came to the corner, he stopped, holding out his hand to keep them still. He could hear someone walking and shook his hand quickly. They all pressed back against wall and held their breaths.

Two Knights walked past them, their bodies held rigid and their odd horse heads focussed ahead. Jack and Hatter leaned out, seeing the back of a blonde woman being held between them. They saw the bruises and scratches on her back from where her dress had been torn and her blonde hair was lank, hanging halfway down her back. The Knights turned a corner and they caught the profile of the thin woman. Jack stiffened, moving to follow them when Hatter clamped his right hand onto his arm.

"Not now," he warned, ignoring Jack's furious look and the way he tried jerk himself free. "We can't save her if we get into a tussle with more Knights than we are ready to handle."

"He's right, sire. We need to keep moving," the Knave whispered and Jack breathed in deeply to calm himself. Hatter let him go and waited him out, eyes on Jack's face for any sign that he would run after the Duchess. Jack sniffed, straightened out his coat, and then gave them a quick, jerky nod.

"This way," he snapped, slipping across the corridor to another set of doors. He led them through a series of rooms, always checking to see if anyone could be around and never once seeing more than a passing glimpse of Knights. Alice kept her attention on the way they were going, only somewhat noticing the almost art deco styling that so severely contrasted the White Manor. Charlie had hold of the back of her coat to keep himself up with the rest of the group, his armour for once not making as much noise.

Alice was struggling to contain her curiosity as Jack led them deeper into the Palace. The richness of the rooms varied and in many ways the Palace reminded her of a museum. Many of walls were protected behind thin glass barriers: large portraits of Jack's ancestors here and there, old relics that were displayed with just as much pride and caution. Then they were contrasted by the modern decor of the rest of the rooms. As Alice followed Jack, she wondered if this was supposed to be symbolic of the Heart family and wondered what could be hiding in these rooms. If the White Manor was any judge of the old buildings in Wonderland, it was very likely that this whole building held far more secrets than she could guess at.

When the rooms began to blend together and the halls seemed endless, Alice began to feel even more uncomfortable. Ahead of her, Hatter kept glancing around with the same amount of unease and that both reassured and worried her. Where was everyone? Where were the Knights that should have been patrolling or even the red mists to block their way? It was far too quiet; the entire building seemed so quiet that she heard every click of their boots on the tile like a loud echo in her ears. Quiet and cold and far too still.

It was too easy, Alice thought to herself when Jack opened a door and led them into the massive entrance that was surrounded by a variety of staircases that twisted left and right. She didn't like feeling exposed, something learned from being in the Taiga, and this was beginning to worry her more and more. This was beginning to feel more and more like a trap to her. The sort of trap she could see so clearly in her mind now: allow intruders to get in quickly and easily, then trap them so far in that they could never escape. Why was she thinking of this now with such ease when she had walked into the trap of the White Manor so blindly?

Hatter paused, looking around. "Is it just me, or is it too quiet?" he asked lowly, voicing Alice's thoughts. He fidgeted as the Knave and Charlie passed him, turning a slow circle. He knew it was a trap, Alice saw, but was trying to downplay it. Whether for her benefit or for his own, she wasn't sure.

"It is," the Knave agreed, "but we don't have much time to linger on it. I don't like the idea of the Sceptre being in their hands."

Jack looked at Alice, seeing the distant concern flickering over her face when she began to pick at the buttons on her coat. "We just need to take the side stairs, Alice. Once we got to the back, we have the element of surprise."

"Jack, as much as I want to say that helped...it didn't," Alice admitted and gave him a weak smile. She stopped playing with the buttons on her coat though and cleared her throat nervously instead. Refusing to meet his eyes, she looked around the room and put a hand to her neck. Her face grew distant again and Jack felt his own nerves grow just watching that strange expression on her fac.e Jack shook his head and moved to the stairs he had pointed out, Alice slowly following when she pulled herself out of her thoughts. The Knave nudged Hatter, who was still looking around with obvious unease, and Charlie finally wandered near the two men after a moment.

Alice stepped after Jack across the tiled floor, suddenly feeling a chill go across the back of her neck. It was as if someone had brushed an ice cube over her skin and she stopped just for a moment before realizing that she had to move and move fast. She moved forward without thinking as to why and heard a hiss behind her. Hearing it as well, Jack had hold of her arm and was turning around to warn the others when he saw the large sheet of glass that had come down from the ceiling. Or at least...he thought it was glass. It didn't shatter as it slammed so hard into the floor that it cracked the tile around it and embedded itself.

Hatter ran forward but the glass had separated all of them from each other by the time he made just two steps. The Knave and Charlie joined him, Charlie staring at the glass in wonder. It was high, disappearing into the gilded ceiling though there was no obvious signs of where it had come from. They all craned their heads back and the Knave scratched at the top of his head in confusion.

"Now this is...unexpected," the Knave commented. Charlie reached out to touch the glass, finding it thick and icy to touch, and jerked his hand back at the cold that bit at his fingers. Beside him, the Knave bit into his inner cheek before he pulled his gun. He cocked it, waiting for the others to take a step back before firing two rounds at the barrier. They had to duck when the bullets ricocheted wildly back, Charlie flying onto his buttocks in a dramatic display while the Knave and Hatter crouched to avoid being hit. When the shots died off and the bullets buried themselves in the walls behind them, Hatter stayed in his crouch, staring at the barrier.

Alice and Jack ran their hands over the glass, Alice knocking hard several times as Jack pressed against it. It was strong though, not even buckling when Jack put pressure on it with his shoulder. Alice gave it a hard kick with her boot, not to attempt to break it but to vent off some frustration. On the other side of the barrier, Hatter moved up to his feet and flexed his fingers before slamming his right hand into the glass hard. The glass stayed strong still and his fist suffered for it.

"Damn it!" he shouted at the flash of pain. His fingers ached and he flexed them repeatedly to get rid of the feeling. He continued to curse loudly, the vulgar and imaginative words making even the Knave and Charlie look at him in surprise.

On the other side, Alice and Jack stared at him, seeing his mouth moving but hearing no sound. "Hatter!" Alice called out but he didn't seem to hear her, shaking his hand out. The Knave saw her lips moving and said something back that neither of them could hear. Hatter still didn't look up, running his hands over the barrier and still talking to himself.

What better trap than this? Alice thought with a tinge of weariness. Being separated from Hatter, Charlie and the Knave...

"We're being separated," Alice whispered and Jack looked down at her, nodding his agreement before looking back up at the Knave. The Knave met his eyes and gestured towards the stairs. Jack nodded, holding up three fingers and then four until the Knave made it clear that he understood what Jack was ordering him to do. Behind the Knave, Charlie was keeping an eye out for any more surprises. The room was still empty though, the only change that massive barrier now splitting the room in half.

Alice stared at Hatter as he kept pressing on the barrier, obviously talking to himself again. Staring at him, she put her hand on the glass and knocked. He couldn't hear it but he saw the action, looking up at her. Her heart jumped to her throat when she saw the fear in his eyes, fear for her and for himself. She gave him a weak smile but he didn't smile back, that intense look that she linked to him when he was at his deadliest. She shook her head at him when she saw the worry in his eyes and mouthed for him to relax. Hatter stared at her for a moment before she saw his shoulders sag, as if he had fought some inner demon. He mouthed that he loved her and she returned the gesture, hoping to calm him down when she saw his agitation still growing. Hoping to calm the sudden fear she felt, fear that she may never see him again after they had come so far together.

"Alice," Jack said suddenly from beside her and she turned her attention to him. "We can meet them down further. They'll just have a longer route to go but we'll be able to meet up with them. We just need to start off and go fast so they don't have far to walk. It's not safe to stay here."

"I know," she answered, looking back at Hatter.

Hatter watched Alice, seeing her nervousness, and found himself rapidly losing his temper that they were separated. He didn't like seeing that fear in her eyes and as he watched he could have sworn that the glow she wore had dimmed out completely. Hatter was so intent on watching her that he nearly jumped out of his skin when the Knave put his hand on his shoulder. The Knave, still almost ashen and his breathing raspy, gave him a knowing look and a weak smile.

"She'll be fine, Hatter. Jack will protect her. We just need to go a different way to meet them," the Knave said but his attempt at reassurance did nothing at all when Hatter looked back, seeing Jack and Alice moving towards the stairs now. Charlie, having turned around now, cleared his throat.

"The Knave is correct, Harbinger. You know that Jack would not bring her to harm," he insisted. Charlie's words eased some of Hatter's worry and he slowly relaxed, backing away from the barrier.

"Let's make this quick then," he said as he turned to the Knave. The other man nodded, gesturing to the stairs to the left. He followed Hatter and Charlie to them, taking the steps slower than he normally would as he felt his damaged body starting to slow down. He didn't like being separated from Alice or Jack either, the knowledge that he had sworn to protect Jack making his unease and desperation to get to them double with every step he took.

Author's Note: I had to write in an explanation to my own little red herring I had when Hatter returned to the White Manor so easily :-P. . C'est la vie. Like the White Queen, I did have some hints as to the Jabberwock, just not as obvious :-P. That idea was in my head from the beginning of this story and really, i just wanted to write it out in some finality.