Chapter Thirty-Two
JACK
The ride from Tres's lovely little cottage in the country had been bumpy and Jack couldn't truly afford to go to sleep just in case he was to chance upon seeing Alice along the way. Auris hadn't been one for much company and kept avoiding his gaze like the plague and was perhaps angrier with him than he had anticipated. They had both agreed to discuss the plan in further detail, but she didn't ask any questions and he was not privy to speak at the moment. He had too many thoughts swimming around in his head to properly discuss things with her about making sure the King was out of the castle and taken to some place safe on Frabjous Day, not to mention he was exhausted. He has gone many a night without sleeping like this before but having to go around on foot like he has taken a lot more out of him than he had anticipated.
When they had arrived at the Castle, they were almost immediately met with Stayne who harassed them both with questions. Jack took the opportunity to answer them and give Auris the chance to escape and only proceeded to annoy and infuriate the petulant Knave. He hissed and cursed and threatened him with all sorts of baseless things that he hardly heard and was too focused on being on time for brunch to truly care. Normally he would have smarted off and truly picked a fight, but Spade and Heart were the only things keeping him going at the moment. He was worried about Alice and too tired from searching for her all night to truly care what Stayne said or thought of him at the moment. He had covered his tracks, snuffed out any secrets that could have given him away and kept his Cards close at bay in his coat, so long as Alice was in the White Kingdom and Jack was here he would make sure to finish playing out his role as the Wild Card until Frabjous Day.
The Knave proceeded to be his new shadow as he made his way to the dining room where the brunch was to be and badgered him with questions trying to get some sort of reaction out of him. It was actually very easy to ignore him with how loud the other Court Members were, and it was very entertaining as well as it only made Stayne angrier. It was almost laughable at how true the saying was, those who anger you control you, because Stayne was playing into Jack's hand and he could have gotten rid of him by now if he truly wanted to. He just had to survive the next two days and then he would be free of Underland and could get the Queen of Hearts her Happy Ending. Things were already passing by so quickly that they were just as blurred as his sleep deprived mind.
But what about his Happy Ending?
What was going to happen to him after all this?
He poured himself a cup of coffee and tried not to think too much. He didn't want to have unanswered questions floating around in his mind, but his mind truly seemed to have a mind of his own.
After all this, would he just return to the Anti-Realm?
What would he do once he returned?
There was little work he could do outside of a life of servitude. He supposed he could always help the other Hosts and possibly recruit others into this program. It would be fun, he supposed, to torment new people like Mr. P and Mr. V did to them. Giving them strange tasks and missions to accomplish to achieve their end goal. He poured himself another coffee. He had had so much coffee in him now that he could hardly taste it with or without sugar in it.
What was going to happen to Alice after all this?
What was she going to do after Frabjous Day?
He hadn't given it much thought before, but wouldn't she have to return to her unhappy life in England?
Would she really marry that man she loathed?
Would she really just become a housewife and fit into the rest of her society?
That bothered him. That bothered him greatly. Here she was at least a little braver and more willing to do more for herself, to see herself for who she truly was rather than what society had made her out to be. His leg began to bounce up and down underneath the table.
Would she really just give up her dreams?
Would she just return to who she was before she came back to Underland?
He prayed she wouldn't change. She had so much life, so much to offer to her world if only it would be brave enough to listen to her. His leg bounced harder under the table when the room suddenly grew a little softer and caught his attention. He turned his head to see the Queen of Hearts entering the dining hall in her traditional Queen of Hearts dress with her head held high and a smile full of pride on her face.
Jack hoped that the smile on his face was enough to conceal all the bouncing of thoughts within his head as he watched the Queen take her seat. He said very little and the Queen conversed with everyone else. He pretended to be interested in what was said, responded appropriately with interest, but Auris and Stayne were watching him, waiting for him to slip up some way, somehow. He was so tired it would be very easy for him to slip up and say the wrong thing, but since Alice wasn't here his cover was safe. Stayne announced that he would still take his soldiers and hounds out as a last resounding attempt to find her and that only made Jack pray that Alice was safe.
When the Queen announced that there would be a croquet match and that everyone was to participate, some part of him mourned. He was just so tired he just wanted to sleep. He knew all he had to do was play a few rounds of croquet and then he would finally be allowed to rest, but his body pleaded with him to sleep now. He was at the point where he was struggling to keep his eyes open that he finally dismissed himself to go get changed for a few rounds of croquet when he was really going to try to nap for a few minutes; even fifteen minutes would be enough to recharge him for a few more hours of being social. His fatigue had only gotten worse the closer he had gotten to his room, but the moment he entered his room and closed the door behind him it left him in an instant.
In his room on his bed was not only the King of Hearts, but also the tiny three-inch-tall Alice. His eyes locked onto Alice's beautiful blue ones and despite how happy he was to see her he shook his head upon seeing her. His heart nearly stopped at the sight. He wasn't sure if he was so delirious from how tired he was of seeing such strange things and rubbed his eyes to make sure he was still awake. When they were still there after he blinked panic ran through him.
Alice was in his room. Alice was in his room with the King of Hearts. Everything around him froze as the horror of everything about to unravel was bearing down on his shoulders. All it would take would be for Stayne or anyone else to enter his room, to witness this scene, and they would all be doomed. He wanted to scream, she wasn't supposed to be here, she was supposed to be in the White Kingdom where it was safe!
"Welcome back, Jack," The King of Hearts greeted Jack with a smile. "It would seem as though you have a visitor."
He nodded his head and slowly turned to Alice,"S-So it would."
"Hello, Jack," she smiled sheepishly and tried to avoid his gaze.
"What are you doing here?" He went to the bed and knelt to the ground to be eye level with her. He propped his hands on the bed and rested his chin there to see her.
"I'm here to free the Hatter," she twisted her fingers and gulped.
"Free the Hatter?" He blinked incredulously. "How did you even get here?"
"Well, I brought her here," The King cleared his throat warily. "I found her on my way through the Gardens and almost stepped on her. I brought her in to share a bit of breakfast with her and now we are here to talk with you."
Jack didn't even bat an eye at him and kept his focus on Alice. He was torn between being elated to see her again and furious that she was here. He had half a mind to stuff her in his pocket and take her to the White Palace now; it's what he should have done from the very beginning.
"How did you get here?" He repeated the question and made sure it was directed to her.
"The Cheshire Cat found me," she answered with a frown. "He's the one who helped bring me here."
"Of course, it was him." Jack hissed and dragged his hand down his face. He was the only one that could have helped her get anywhere in her current size condition, though Jack could hardly fathom why he brought her here rather than to the White Palace. After everything he and that caterpillar had drilled into his head about making sure she was to go to the White Palace, he brought her here. He was going to beat Father Time to seeing that cat and was going to bathe him in buckets of water for this.
A small cold feeling of a tiny hand touching his nose made him open his eyes to see a very worried Alice staying at him. "You look dreadful," she commented and touched the bags under his eyes.
Even with how tiny she was he enjoyed her touch. He couldn't hide his smile at her actions, but he let it fall just as quickly as it came. "I've had quite a few dreadful sleepless nights worrying about you."
"I'm all right," she took a step back and gestured to herself. "I promise."
"You're supposed to be at the White Palace," he argued with a small glare, "You shouldn't even be here!"
"But the Hatter is here!" She threw her own glare up at him. Normally he would find it adorable and would even tease her about it, but the circumstances for why she was here was far from good. The fact that she was here specifically for the Hatter only rubbed salt in his wounded heart.
He growled as he looked at her, "But it isn't safe here."
"But you're here too. . ." Her face flushed and he hated how it was enough to squeeze his heart. He couldn't be sweet though, not here in the Red Castle, not with so much at stake and especially not in front of the King of Hearts.
"Just because I am here does not mean you are safe." He said bluntly as her eyes locked on to his. "I told you that I can't help you more than I already have. Even with you being small enough to stay out of sight it isn't safe for you here!"
"Safe or not, I must help the Hatter." She said stubbornly and threw another glare at him. This time he did not find her glare cute nor did he like her stubbornness at this moment. Especially since she was here for the Hatter. This was the third time that she said that she was here for the Hatter and it just made him burn deeply within. The Hatter was his friend and he did not wish ill will towards him, but he could feel Diamond ready to snap at Alice and possibly punch Hatter. It must have been his fatigue that was getting in the way of his reasoning, but the jealousy that rose within him was enough to make him not want to help her.
"No," he snapped as Diamond itched his way out. "You must get to the White Palace,"
"And how do you propose she will do that, Jack?" The King spoke up and looked like an overprotective father as he crossed his arms and looked at him. The King had been so quiet as he watched the scene play before him that Jack had completely forgotten that he was there.
"My King –" Jack stood to reason with the King when the King began to speak again.
"Think about it, Jack, she can't get there in her current height condition, and giving her Upelkuchen is the worst thing that we can do unless you really want her to be a prisoner here." The King frowned as he spoke reason to him. "As much as neither of us like it, the Hatter may be the only one who can help her if neither of us can."
The fact that he said the Hatter was the only one who could help her made his blood boil, but it was the fact that Jack knew it was true that made it worse. As much as Jack wanted to help her, his heart pleaded with him to do so, if he turned his back on the Queen now, she would truly be alone, and no one would get a Happy Ending. The Queen of Hearts was already in a very fragile state and the last thing he needed to do was abandon her for Stayne to pick up the pieces and stitch her together for his own uses and manipulation.
Jack inhaled deeply to calm down and glanced at Alice. "Where's the Cheshire Cat now?"
"I don't know," she shrugged and held her arm nervously. "As soon as he forced me to cross the moat of heads he vanished."
"Of course, he did," he gritted his teeth and balled his hand into a fist. He easily saw why Father Time was not a fan of the Cheshire Cat, he was quickly losing favor with Jack too. He had really liked him up to this point, but the cat had officially put Alice in danger and put Jack's life at stake.
Alice tilted her head to the side as she carefully watched Jack's face. "Can't you just take me through the door?"
"I can't," Jack shook his head. "I have to be at the croquet match soon."
"Croquet?" Alice scoffed and shook her head. "You're going to go play croquet at such a crucial time like this?"
"I don't have a choice, Alice," he tried to keep his voice even as Diamond itched on his face impatiently. "I've been suspected of treason for not bringing you to the Queen, and the Knave is looking for any excuse to bring me down; he'd have a field day to see you here now! Not to mention that I am under direct order of the Queen to do as she says."
"Did she get a hold of your –" Alice gasped but Jack immediately cut her off. He stole a glance at the King who seemed very interested in them but didn't seem to catch that Alice was about to reveal the fact he still had his Cards on him. Though the King was not one to expose his possession of his personal Cards, he would rather not take that chance.
"No, she hasn't," he shook his head and watched her visibly relax. "For me to remain that way I have to play my role and do as she says; which means I have to go to her ridiculous croquet match."
"The croquet match shouldn't last too long," the King offered in a weak form of peace. "Once it's over, couldn't you just help the Hatter escape and then get them to the White Palace?"
"And betray the Queen?" Jack gaped at the King. He could hardly believe what he just said. After begging and pleading to do so many things to save his wife now he wanted Jack to go against her? "You surely don't mean that!"
"I don't see why it isn't possible," he frowned and put his hands on his hips. "I've already seen the prophecy and though everyone else seems to be in denial, it is going to happen one way or another whether the Queen likes it or not; I have already accepted that she is not going to win this war."
If the Queen heard the King right now, he would surely lose his head and then she would surely lose her heart for having him killed and the Knave would be rolling in victorious laughter. Jack could scream at the recklessness around him, but this was ultimately his fault for not doing something sooner. He should have just taken Alice to the White Queen and not gotten so involved with her; but he would have hated not getting to know her.
Both the King and Alice were looking at him expectantly for some sort of answer and Jack could feel the pressure building on him. He suddenly really wished he could just escape to the Anti-Realm for a moment of solitude and solace just to sleep and to get his head screwed back on straight. He was so tired, and so many people were expecting so much from him. He was the Wild Card so he was expected to be this magnificent being who fixed all of their problems; couldn't they see that he couldn't? Couldn't they see that he was just as human with his own tangled problems that he could hardly fix? While he tried to rack his brain and come up with some sort of instant solution, a soft knock came at the door as it was gently pushed open.
"Jack?" Auris poked his head around the door and his blood ran cold as she saw the King and her black eyes slowly roved over to Alice. With a tiny gasp she shut the door behind her and locked it as she looked at the three guilty and caught red handed. She said nothing as she looked at all three of them, reeling from the realization that the very people she had been trying to help had all but betrayed both she and the Queen. She inhaled sharply and kept her eyes trained on Jack. "I assume that there is some sort of explanation to what I'm seeing, yes?"
She crossed her arms and Jack's mouth went dry as his mouth opened and closed like a fish trying to breathe. He had plenty of things he could say to clear up this situation, but his mind wasn't quite working properly to give him the proper words to say. Instead his shoulders sagged, and the weight of his exhaustion only grew as he finally just asked, "Why are you here, Auris?"
"I came to check on you," her frown was like a scolding mother that was greatly disappointed with her child. "You didn't sleep in the carriage and I figured I would need to wake you for the croquet match that is to begin shortly. Not to mention we still have a few things to discuss. . ."
Her eyes wandered over to the King and she tilted her head to the side as she saw the tiny Alice. When her eyes eventually returned back to Jack, he felt like such a fool. She didn't say anything as she looked at him expectantly to explain. He could only look at her pleadingly as he struggled to find the right words to say.
"Don't be so hard on him, Auris," the King sighed as he stepped up. "I have put him in a rather difficult position."
"And why are you out of your room?" She pointed with a glare. "Are you not aware of the consequences that you would be in if the Queen found out you were sneaking through the passageways to leave your room?"
"She'd have my head and have the Castle rebuilt brick by brick," the King waved his hand in dismissal. "Out of everyone in this room I am the most aware of the dangers at hand!"
"Then why are you here?" She held out both of her hands and gestured to all of him. "I thought you wanted to still be with your wife, would you so willingly throw it all away just to bring Alice to Jack?" She then threw her accusatory glare to Alice. "Which brings me to my next question, why are you here?"
"I am here to free the Hatter." Her voice was soft but there was a determined firmness in her eyes.
"With how small you are, what did you plan to accomplish?" She placed her hands on her hips and tapped her foot. "Did you think of what you were doing when you got here, or did you just rush in blindly? Do you even know what would happen if the Queen of Hearts found out you were here?"
"We'd all lose our heads," Alice groaned. "But – "
"No, we would lose our heads," she pointed to the three dressed in the Queen of Hearts regalia. "You would be held prisoner to change the outcomes of this war."
This was a bit of news to Jack and he slowly turned to see the confrontation with Auris and Alice. Even the King seemed surprised by this.
"What?" She shook her head in disbelief.
"Miss Alice, have you not thought about why you have been hunted down so severely these past few weeks?" Auris asked exasperatedly. "You are the key to change what happens in Underland. Whichever side you choose, you would ultimately change what would happen to the other side."
"But I can hardly do anything," Alice argued weakly. "How could my choosing of a side change things so drastically? Wasn't it prophesied that I would have to kill the Jabberwocky?"
"For all that is good in Underland, yes you are supposed to kill the Jabberwocky," Auris sighed. "The Orichalcum prophesied what is best for Underland, however if that is not where your heart lies it is subject to change."
The three all stared at Auris in disbelief. To think that Alice would choose to assist the Red Queen rather than stop her; it was unheard of. Jack was so surprised he hadn't thought of this before nor realized that things could be so easily changed. He, like everyone else assumed that the Orichalcum made everything final not that it would predict what is best to happen for all of Underland. In this moment, if Alice were to choose to stay rather than assist the White Queen, what would happen? The answer was actually pretty simple, destruction.
Unlike the White Queen who took an oath to never harm a living thing so long as she ruled, the Queen of Hearts had no problems in shedding a little blood and causing harm to those who opposed her. The Queen of Hearts, though was kind to those who she solely cared for, was terribly paranoid and she would rage her armies across all of Underland to conquer and become the Empress of Underland. She would rule with an iron first and would leave a trail of heads in her wake for all who opposed her. She would get revenge against her family for all the deep scars and insecurities that they embedded into her, she would get revenge against her little sister who started the deepest grudge and rage within her, and once she got her revenge she would not feel fulfilled but hollow and empty because there would be nothing left for her to hold on to. She would forget what the King of Hearts meant to her when she became the Empress, and she would be terrible and terribly alone. Stayne would use her, abuse her, and manipulate her into nothing more than a figurehead to take all of Underland in her name only to kill her with his own hand and take everything for his own selfish pleasures. Alice who would have been kept as a captive the entire time would be his plaything and he would use the key of Underland for his own devices. Jack was sure that if Alice chose to stay in the Red Castle and assist the Queen of Hearts only misery and destruction would befall Underland, and it would be his fault for not fixing it when he should have.
He looked at Alice's contemplative fate and was so relieved to hear her words. "Even knowing that, I-I can't help the Queen of Hearts," she shook her head as she looked up at Auris. "She's taken too much from me and would only keep many more things from me if I tried to help her. If it is for the best of Underland, then I must go to the White Queen. . ."
"Good," she breathed a sigh of relief. "I was afraid that your feelings for Jack would get in the way of making the right decision."
Both Jack and Alice blushed a deep shade of red that warmed Jack from his head to his toes."What?"
"Oh, have I made the wrong assumption?" Auris turned to look at Jack. "That you haven't brought Alice into the Red Queen because you have developed feelings for the girl?"
"Even if I have, Auris," Jack frowned despite his growing blush. "Even I know when some things just aren't meant to be."
"Preposterous!" Auris scoffed. "Why else were you so ready to draw a weapon the moment I opened that door?"
Jack opened his mouth to argue that she wasn't entirely correct but found that he couldn't argue with her. He had developed feelings for Alice, and though he wanted nothing more than to indulge those feelings and get to know her better, the stake of Underland greatly got in the way of that. If he could steal Alice away from all the chaos of Underland to ensue behind him, he would have done so a long time ago.
She snorted with a soft smile, "That's what I thought."
"Come now, Auris," The King hedged as he stepped in the conversation. "Can't you cut him a little bit of slack?"
"Absolutely not," she frowned and pointed her finger in his face. "Not when he's been keeping so much from us since the beginning."
"How was he supposed to know that he could trust us, Auris," The King raised a brow at her. "The Castle is full of all sorts of undesirables that pledge their loyalty to my wife. Had he come to us in the beginning with all of this, do you really think that we would have just let things happen the way they have?"
"No," she sighed and crossed her arms again. "We both would have done what we thought was right and reported things to the Queen."
"Precisely," he nodded. "Now that we have everything to our knowledge before us, we must figure out a way to get Miss Alice out of here."
"I'm not leaving without the Hatter," Alice said stubbornly. "It is my fault that he got into this mess in the first place! I have to help him escape."
"You will leave with the Hatter," Jack confirmed as he looked at Alice. "I swear that you will, but until I can get him out, you must remain here."
"Is that really a good idea?" Auris turned and looked at him. "The maids could come in and clean up at any time, do you really want her to get swept away?"
"Then what do you propose we do, Auris?" Jack growled as Diamond appeared on his face. "I can't go missing during the croquet match, you can't either with the way the Knave has been sniffing around."
"You could always take her with you," Auris suggested.
"And risk her falling out of my pocket and damning us all?" Jack snapped.
"I can take her with me," The King offered weakly as he shuffled forward. "I am supposed to be confined to my room with very little people seeing me. I can take her with me and once you've secured the Hatter, I can return her to you."
It wasn't the best of plans, but Jack did not have a better alternative. It would put them all at risk, which meant everything to follow after this would have to be carefully planned and executed if they were to keep their heads.
"Fine," Jack ran a hand through his hair and dragged it down his face. "You should probably leave soon anyways if you are to keep your secret passageways a secret anyways. The last thing we need is them to not find you in your room."
His tired eyes turned to the tiny Alice who stood staring up at them on his bed. She looked far from pleased at the plan and course of action that they would be taking, but it was the best given their circumstances. Jack hated not giving her much of a choice in the matter, but he couldn't risk something happening to her, not when she was in the most dangerous place possible. When her eyes locked with his she gave him an easy smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
He got down on his knees and rested his chin on his hands to be eye level with her again. "You do know I am not doing any of this to belittle you, Alice," he spoke gently to her as she stepped forward and touched his nose.
"I am aware," she nodded her head but tried to avoid his gaze. "I still don't have to like it. . ."
"True," he nodded his head in agreement. "Even so, I really appreciate it if you just go along with it until I free the Hatter."
"I will." She nodded her head with blushing cheeks. "I will do it for you, and because I don't have much of a choice either."
"Thank you," he breathed a sigh of relief and slumped on the bed. He was really tired.
"Well, Miss Alice," The King cleared his throat as he appeared beside Jack with his hand outstretched for her to step in. "We need to get going else we miss our moment of opportunity."
"Right." She gave his nose a quick peck of a kiss before stepping away from him. It was so tiny and so faint on the tip of his nose that to most people it would have felt like a ladybug dancing on their skin, but to Jack it lit a flame within him. It was the first time she reached out to show him affection. He was almost so dumbfounded he almost missed the bashful smile on her face as she walked away from him and stepped into the King's hand. "Be seeing you."
He turned and watched the King disappear through a painting beside the wardrobe in his room when Auris placed a hand on his shoulder. "We should get going too, Jack."
He gave a nod and dragging his tired body from the floor he stood and followed Auris to the Gardens where the croquet match was to be held.
ALICE
Alice was quiet as the King made his way through the dark secret passageways between the walls. She had never seen Jack like that, he was so emotional and distraught she felt terribly guilty. He had dark circles under his eyes like he really hadn't slept in weeks, his skin was paler too from his exhaustion, and yet he was still pushing himself. He was pushing himself to the point of breaking all for her, to get her safe, to get her away from the clutches of the Queen of Hearts, to get her closer to returning home, and what does she do? She stupidly steps on all of the good things he had done for her and goes into the Red Castle where it is far from safe for her and for him all for a selfish reason of wanting to save her friend. It wasn't saving the Hatter that was selfish but that secret craving for the glory of saving him, to think she could actually do it all on her own and be a hero.
But she couldn't, not with how small she was. Auris's words really struck her deep and she realized just how foolish she was. She should have just let the Cheshire Cat take her to the White Palace and all of this would have been different. They would have been on opposing sides, yes, but she knew that, but at least then she wouldn't put so many people in danger with her mere presence being there. She was terribly stupid to think that she could actually accomplish what she set out to do. . .
"Are you all right, Miss Alice?" The King whispered as he felt his way through the dark.
"Y-Yes," her voice shook as the raw emotion of realizing she had messed up again buried its way into her heart.
"You don't sound like it," the King paused in his walking and held her up at eye level. "You've been rather quiet since we left Jack and Auris."
"I've just been given something to think about," she sighed and ran her fingers through her hair and pushed it out of her face.
"And what is that?"
"That I am truly foolish," her fingers got stuck in some of the tangled curls. "That I really don't know what I've gotten myself into and have just made things worse."
"Oh, I don't know about that," he gave a gentle shrug. "Things were going to be this bad whether you were here or not, it's just an addition to the situation."
"That doesn't make any of this better. . ." She huffed and ripped her hand free from the knot.
"You meant well," The King explained. "It's just that the timing of things is very ill-opportuned; then again, most things that are life and death matters typically are. Surely if you would have known that things would turn out like this, you wouldn't have come."
"Of course, I wouldn't," she said almost too defensively. "If I knew I was going to cause this much trouble I wouldn't have even thought about coming."
"See?" He chuckled and patted the top of her head with his finger. "All will be fine, Miss Alice. Jack will surely come up with a plan for us to follow and all will be well in the end; so, chin up."
He used the end of his finger to make her raise her chin, and she did with a faint smile, but she still felt terrible for being here. She should have known better, shouldn't have been so rash.
"You know, Miss Alice," he spoke as he continued walking. "I wish I were a little more like you."
"Whatever for?" Her brow furrowed in disbelief.
"You're not afraid to run in to go and protect the ones you care for," he paused his walking again and stared straight ahead. "I am not a very brave man to begin with, and everyone here can attest to that and will even give you examples of how true it is. I would rather make peace than go to war, would rather be quiet than outspoken, and will often step aside for the happiness of others. I can't even reach out to my wife like a husband should. I love her dearly, with all of my heart, yet she doesn't always hear what I say and doesn't ever seem to entirely look my way. If I were as brave as you or Jack, then maybe things could have been different, and my marriage wouldn't have suffered as badly as it has. . ."
"I don't feel very brave." She admitted awkwardly. "In fact, I think I'm far from it."
"You were brave enough to come into the threshold of danger to save a friend," he smiled kindly at her. "Not very many people would do that. Too many people only want to save themselves."
"I can hardly do that," she scoffed. "I hardly exist in my own world, let alone this one. Jack's had to save me since I arrived here."
"Sometimes just existing in such a cruel and hateful world is the bravest thing of all," he murmured. "Anyone can blend in and do what everyone else does, but it takes great courage and bravery to exist and do the very thing that makes you happy. Despite what you say, Miss Alice, I think you're a very brave person."
Alice could only smile at that as she had nothing she could say. She never felt brave, not in Underland and especially not in her own world. She was used to everyone walking over her or making fun of her. She rarely knew what it was like to be around people who she wanted to call friends; the Hatter was really the first one she claimed as her friend. She would have claimed Jack as her first friend, but her feelings for him were much more than that, and though she would always be friends with him they could never be anything more than that. She couldn't quite fathom what he saw in her, but she would not argue with the King.
The King had started walking again as they lapsed into silence when he suddenly stopped and looked ahead. In the darkness of the passageway Alice would just barely make out a frog butler standing on the tips of his toes peering into something.
"He's gone again. . ." The frog grumbled, and Alice's heart pounded like drums in her ears. Someone had noticed that the King was gone and was looking for him. The King hadn't moved a muscle as they watched the frog turn around and stared at them. His big yellow eyes were practically glowing in the darkness as he stared at the King.
"Your Majesty," he grumbled with a frown. "What are you doing out of your room?"
"I could ask you what you're doing in my private passageway," the King growled.
"This is a servant's passageway, my king." The frog spoke blankly. "It is not meant for royals such as yourself to be wandering about."
"I have travelled these passageways long before you worked here, frog," the King tried to sound angry and make himself bigger, however, Alice could feel how terrified he was at being caught. His entire body shook, and she felt it while sitting in his hand that he now had at his side. He had a good hold on her, but even the slightly loosening of his hand would make her fall. "This is my secret passageway and I demand that you leave at once!"
"As you wish, sire," he gave a shrug as he looked at the King. "I had intended to tell Stayne so that he can tell the Queen that you've been missing anyways."
"You would tattle on me for going to the kitchen to get snacks!" The King snapped, and though he was trying to sound angry for his just cause and reason it sounded very childish.
"This isn't the first time I've caught you out of your room, sire," the frog laughed evilly. "I have caught you making your way to the Wild Card's room. I'm sure that Stayne would love to hear about how the King is conspiring with the Wild Card to assassinate the Queen!"
"I bet he would!" Another voice shouted from the shadows and in the faint glow of the light there was the glint of metal. Alice squinted trying to see who the voice belonged to when there was the slice of a blade and the gurgling sound of the frog butler before them choking to death.
The frog's body fell to the ground in a bloody mess and in his wake stood Malley the Dormouse. She flicked her tiny blade to get rid of the blood on it before bowing before the King.
Malley smiled as she walked forward, "It's good to see you again, your Kingship."
"Malley," he breathed a sigh of relief. "It really is good to see you again."
"When I didn't see you in your room, I just assumed that you went to the kitchens again," Malley spoke with pride. "However, when I didn't see you there and went looking for you that's when Stayne's spies started showing up."
"I'm glad you were here when you were," the King nodded appreciatively. "I don't know what would have happened if you weren't."
"You'd be in line with the others for the choppin' block." She pointed to the now dead frog, "I've been following this bloke around the passageways for a while now and he's got a few other cronies out looking for you."
"Thank you, for the assistance, Malley." The King smiled down at the Dormouse. "I do have a request to make of you."
"Anything, sire." She put her hand over heart and bowed.
"Now that matters have gotten more severe for me, I don't think that I can have Alice with me." The King crouched down and held his hand out to the dormouse, "I need you to keep an eye on Alice."
"Alice?" Her ears flicked and eyes glared at his curled hand to see Alice.
"Hello, Malley."
"What are you doin' here?" She snapped and stomped over to the King's foot. "Do you even know how much trouble you'd be in if you were caught?"
"So I've been told," she grimaced. "I've gotten plenty of scoldings by now."
"Not yet you haven't!" Malley went over and snatched her by the arm. "I haven't given you a piece of my mind yet you great glub!"
"Ow, that hurts!" Alice snatched her arm back and glared at the Dormouse.
"Ladies, please tell me you can get along," the King gulped as he looked at the two opposing females.
"I won't get along with her," Malley spun on her heel and pointed at the King, "but I do promise to keep her safe."
Alice could see the hesitation in his eyes and the almost instant look of regret but said nothing as the King got back to his feet. "The Wild Card is coming up with a plan to help free the Hatter. Once he's done that, he can take Alice to the White Palace."
"She should have gone straight there after the Hatter sacrificed himself for her," she snapped her head around and glared at Alice. "But I'll keep her safe, sire, you have my word."
"Godspeed," the King bowed his head before bending down to pick up the dead frog and stepped inside of his room. Alice wasn't sure how he was going to dispose of the dead body, but there was a huge moat outside that could easily hide it if necessary.
Now that the King was gone, all forms of niceties were over and done with as Malley turned and glared at Alice. "Listen here, Wrong Alice," she stood in Alice's face. "You've done gone and jeopardized my mission of rescuing the Hatter. Now that I have to babysit you, you will do what I say when I say it, got it?"
"I will not!" Alice stepped back to create some distance. "I do not need to babysat; I can handle myself!"
She wasn't sure where that burst of confidence came from, but she did not like being openly insulted so rudely, especially not by the Dormouse. Malley only scoffed as she rested her weight on her back foot. "If you could take care of yourself you would have already been at the White Palace and I wouldn't have to bother!"
"If I could have gone to the White Palace on my own, I would have!" Alice snapped. "I can't do anything being this small!"
"Oh, really," Malley sneered. "Being small a problem? Funny, I've been this small all my life and I've never had a problem. I can do the same thing most bigger folks can, even better at times. Don't let size be an excuse for wanting someone else to save you, Wrong Alice."
"I am Alice," she seethed.
"Whatever," Malley looked her up and down completely unimpressed. "Let's just get goin'. The longer we stand here, the sooner someone will find you."
She snatched Alice's wrist and began dragging her back through the passageway. Alice tried to fight and free her wrist, but the Dormouse had a surprising amount of strength to be able to pull her the way she did. "I can walk just fine!" Alice snatched her wrist in a puffing huff.
"Walk faster!" Malley snapped. "Every second we waste here is another second the Hatter is losing himself in his work! I've been here for nearly two days looking for him and I'm not about to let him die for you, Alice. If you don't keep up, then you're on your own!"
With that Malley wasted no time in turning around and dropping on all fours in a full on run to get as far away from Alice as possible. Keep up, right, like that was going to happen now. Alice only had two legs where Malley had the four. Alice couldn't help but wonder if Malley did that on purpose just to get rid of her; she didn't blame her; she would leave her too if her friend was in danger because of her too. Alice didn't mind that she was gone, it was probably for the best since things were only getting more and more heated by the second, but she wished Malley would have at least deserted her in an area with more light.
The ceiling beams were thankfully very large and gave her plenty of time to explore and get her eyes adjusted to the dark, however, the precarious feeling of making a misstep was enough to spike her anxiety and give her plenty of reasons to have difficulty in breathing. She had walked along a straight beam for a while when she finally caught a glimpse of the light shining in from a hole in the rough. Instinctively she ran towards it and soaked it in. The darkness around her just wanted to swallow her up and Alice had to admit that it was very intimidating. She took a few deep breaths in the light before looking around her and seeing a pathway of light just off to the left went for it. The closer she got to it she could smell the fresh scent of roses and the fresh air. Before she could stop, however, she went sliding down a drainpipe that sent her flying out the mouth of the waterspout and into the garden.
She tried not to scream as she was flung into a prickly bush so as not to alert anyone where she was but almost couldn't help it when she landed flat on her stomach on the ground. Hot tears strong her eyes as her body tried to recover from the front of the fall and it took her five deep breaths to get air back into her lungs. When she sat up, she realized that she was in the worst place she could possibly be in. She was in the Garden where the Queen was holding her croquet match. With how small she was it was easy to hide in the shadows of the bushes.
From where she stood, she could see the Queen chatting happily with her bored Court Members as the White Rabbit set up the hedgehog ball. Auris was standing just close enough to Auris that she could tell they were carrying on a conversation, but just barely. Their lips hardly moved, but they made several facial expressions. Alice tried to squint to see what they were saying, but it was too difficult to tell, especially when a hedgehog went flying past her. She barely ducked away in time when the poor thing whizzed by her. It landed with a squeak and took a moment to uncurl itself and rolled back and forth trying to get back up on its feet but was stuck rolling on its back. Alice's heart went out to the little hedgehog and she immediately went to its side to help it right itself.
As soon as it was up on its feet again it nudged its head in her hands as thanks and ended up getting a good scratch down in the process. Alice had gotten so caught up with the hedgehog that she had completely forgotten that it was the ball for the Queen's game until she shouted, "Page!"
The hedgehog squeaked and scuttled away just as the White Rabbit poked its head through the bushes. He gasped upon seeing Alice and frowned. "Well, if it isn't the Wrong Alice." His voice was bitter with hurt as he looked down at her. "What are you doing here?"
"I got lost and fell down the drain," she pointed in the direction the waterspout had shot her from. "I got here and now I don't know where I'm going."
"Well you should get out of here," he hissed, and his ear flicked behind him. "Even if you are the Wrong Alice, it's still not safe for you here."
"I can't leave yet!" She shook her head. "I have to help free the Hatter!"
"Does the Wild Card know you're here?" His ear twitched in annoyance.
"Yes," she told a half truth, though he would be furious if he saw her here. She needed to get out of here quick and being small was getting her nowhere. "Do you have any of that cake that makes you grow?"
"Upelkunchen?" He blinked in surprise. "I believe I do, just a moment."
He dug around his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief wrapped around a tiny piece to fit in the palm of his paw. Seeming satisfied with the portion he held it out for her. Upon seeing it she had a vigorous appetite and she took several huge bites. "Wait, be careful!" He panicked and took it back. "Don't eat all of it! No, no, stop –!"
Before he could stop her or tell her to spit some of it out, she swallowed every bite and grew, and grew, and grew until she was taller than the bush. Her clothes ripped to shreds as she was practically a giant now and she only had the bush as coverage to hide her body. The Court Members gasped, the Queen just stared, Auris's eyes were wide and Jack looked ready to blow as the suit on his cheek couldn't quite stay in Heart.
Author's Note:
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you're enjoying it so far!
Dun, dun, dun! I know there was a lot going on in this chapter, but it was so much fun to write! If you remember this bit from the movie, we are getting very close to the end of the story. For those of you who don't like terribly long stories, we've got about a quarter left of the story, so fear not!
Please remember to leave a comment or review and tell me what you think! If you like the story enough, please share and spread the love for Jack Heart. ^_^
Ko-fi/SarahtheWriter.