If Alice had indeed thought Marmoreal glorious with its spires of white marble and stone, then in light of the wonder she currently beheld she'd made a rather bemused mental note to perhaps borrow Time's thesaurus might she discover a more apt a term.

Sat upon the very horizon itself the great facade of the Palace glowed with an otherworldly blue luminescence, its delicate spires haloed by the glistening heavens themselves while rings of heliotrope cloud seemed to sparkle under the light of the brilliant Cheshire moon.

As they entered the towering gates Alice marveled at the glittering silver stone pathway that curled like a great serpent through the grand expanse of lush forest that spread out from its foundations, Emrys swooping low over the dense foliage and the million tiny little lights that danced through the darkness.

"What are they?" Alice bid curiously.

"These are Memory's Gardens," He offered as they circled a rather large and elaborate stone courtyard, "They are the souls of those come to reminisce, to dream of times gone by."

"They're not- dead," She ventured warily, "Are they?"

"No," He chuckled, "Merely in slumber, the body safe and warm in their beds while their minds are free to frolic within Dreams domain."

Emrys dropped lightly onto the damp flagstone by the grand water feature sat at the clearings centre.

"Is that why we've stopped?" Alice queried as she slipped from his shoulders, "Is this where I might find the man himself?"

"I wouldn't presume to know where you might find such a creature," He offered with a shake of his great head, "Only that it is not my place to venture any further."

Alice slumped somewhat at the prospect as she assessed the seemingly great distance to Dream's Palace and her already exhausted state, "I've all that way to go?"

"Alone?"

"Well," Emrys amended with a curl of his lip, "Not entirely."

With a furrowed brow Alice followed his gaze over her shoulder, an elegant figure shimmering into existence upon the fountains rippling surface. Her chestnut hair flowing about her moon tanned skin while her vibrantly blue eyes left no doubt in Alice's mind whom she might be.

"Memory." Alice breathed in wonder.

"Alice Kingsleigh." She smiled softly as she approached, "At last you've arrived."

"You know of me?"

"Of course," Her lip curled into a knowing smirk as Alice's eyes widened in surprise, "Almost all who dwell within our realm have heard tell of the champion and her daring adventures."

"A gross exaggeration no doubt," Alice offered a wry smile, "I'm afraid any stories you might have heard involve much less daring and rather more blundering about than I'd care to admit."

"Be that as it may," Memory chuckled, "You hold a fond place in the hearts and minds of a great many here in Underland my dear."

"I've no doubt," Alice agreed, "But for now I'm only interested in one such mind."

Memory nodded, "You seek to restore the mad milliner."

"I do."

"Then you have come to the right place my dear," Memory assured with a gentle smile, "For it is through the very depths of my gardens his mind wanders."

"Then you must help me please," Alice breathed, "For I fear the man left behind is mere hours away from making the biggest mistake of his life."

"Yes I'd heard rumor he was to be married on the morrow," Memory mused. "Though the distinct hint of jealousy clouding your mind does bring me pause in granting your request."

"I won't lie, I wasn't overly thrilled by the announcement," Alice eyed her seriously, "Devastated in fact-"

"You love him." Memory stated needlessly.

"I have cause to believe his life in danger," Alice seethed at the seemingly pointless banter, "I need him back."

Reigning in her temper she took a breath, her head bowed in supplication, "I offer whatever you might ask of me in return for your aid."

"Be wary to whom you would offer such a boon in future dear Alice," Memory warned, stepping down beside her, "Do not forget for a second the nature of where it is you now reside. Not everything nor everyone is quite as they seem."

"Believe me, I'm not soon to be forgetting any such thing," Alice disagreed, "Though if it is the price I must pay for your assistance, then the offer remains."

"We would not have you pay in aid of one we ourselves consider friend." Memory tutted as she offered out a hand.

"Then you'll take me to him?" Accepting her gentle lead Alice followed as the woman headed for a small path cutting through the surrounding foliage.

"Soon," Memory nodded, her lips curling somewhat mysteriously as she tucked Alice arm into the crook of her elbow, "Though there are others gathered this night that would speak with you first."

"Others?" Alice murmured, "But who else knows I'm here?"

"Those that would offer their aid to your cause," Memory offered, her stark eyes betraying nothing as she strode with purpose through the twists and turns of her garden. "For there is much regarding your Hatter's current predicament that you are not yet aware of."

"That sounds rather ominous." Alice raised a speculative brow at the remark.

"While you're here there's no need to fear for yourself or your dear friend," Memory assured her gently, "Dreams powers are indeed great, the protective measures surrounding the Palace and its grounds like no other in all of Underland. Even in his somewhat rather diminished state of late nothing could pass those gates unless he wished it to."

"Diminished?" Alice frowned, "Is something wrong with him?"

"Heavens no," Memory chuckled, sweeping right onto another path only she could see, "It merely took more of his reserves than he'd expected to send your Hatter's pleas to the mortal realm."

"Well that certainly explains a few things," Alice mused, "I'd been dreaming of Tarrant almost a year before Absolem finally brought me back."

"Yes I know," Memory cringed, "Time in your realm it seems clashes so terribly with our own, a grudge no doubt over something long since passed. I do apologize for not being able to send him sooner but it took me a great deal longer than I'd originally anticipated to make enough sense of your Hatter's mind to ensure your tether wouldn't see you lost to the ether in crossing."

"The heartstring?" Alice frowned, "That was you?"

"I merely offered a measure of stability in the interim," She shook her head with a chuckle, "Once Tarrant had worked out my purpose he reached out to pull you through on his own. Though I doubt he'd meant to drop you upon the Queen's tea table."

"Well he still owes her a new tea pot regardless," Alice raised an unimpressed eyebrow, "Though why not just bring me here?"

"No point in having you transition here if he'd no intention of remaining," Memory corrected with an elegant wave of her arm, "Besides Mirana had matters well in hand. All in all, I think your transition went quite well wouldn't you agree?"

"Admittedly I've not much to compare it too," Alice mused, "Though aside from the initial pain and a few decidedly specific side effects I appear to be no worse for wear."

"You're bound to a Hightopp," She hummed knowingly in response, "That alone explains quite a bit, that it is Tarrant specifically even more so. He's quite unique even amongst those of his kin."

"Not that it bothers me in the slightest, but why is that?"

"Underland's magic effects everyone differently," Memory explained, "As a Hatter both his body and mind are affected by the chemicals of his trade, though not quite so adversely as the milliners of your world. He is mad because of it make no mistake, but his magic negates the poison and as a result manifests the mercurial effects upon his person as a whole."

Alice nodded having already gathered as much, "Is the same then true of his personalities? The warrior and the rogue, are they a product of magic or madness?"

"Both," Memory supplied, "Though purely circumstantial in origin they too are just as dependent upon his mood as you well know. Mind I've never faced the Outlander myself, even watching from the sidelines of his mind is terrifying enough."

"Oh it is, trust me," Alice mused with a wry smile, "Though what does that says about me then I wonder, when I find myself missing that part of him most keenly?"

"That he chose well indeed," A knowing smirk curled the eternals lip, "He's in love with you too, you know? I know it might not be my place to say but-"

"He-?" Alice stilled, an absurd smile curling the corner of her lip. "He loves me?"

"Yes of course he loves you," Memory scoffed obviously, "You've known each other practically your whole lives. What I said was that he was in love with you. Wouldn't have found ourselves in such a conundrum if he wasn't."

Alice's expression of budding glee slipped to a confused frown, "I don't follow?"

"Neither rules nor instructions if I recall correctly," A familiar voice quipped from the other side of the clearing. "Why am I not surprised."

Her head snapped around, her eyes widening with her smile as he stepped into view.

"Time!"

"Hello Alice," He bid with a fond curl of his thin lips as she approached to embrace him, "It is good to see you again my dear. Though the circumstances be decidedly unfavorable, unhappy and," He pulled his book from his vest pocket with a frown until he found what he was looking for, "Unpropitious."

"I couldn't agree more," Alice offered him a warm smile, comforted in the way he hadn't seemed to have changed at all since they'd last met, "Though I do wish someone would explain to me exactly what's been going on?"

"A great many things have happened in your absence my dear girl." He quipped with a gentle smirk.

"Please," She huffed good naturedly, "I'm serious. What happened? Why is the Hatter not as he should be?"

"Because it was never about the little blue hat," Time offered with a shrug, "It was about you."

"Me?" Alice frowned in confusion.

"Of course," He rolled his eyes with a fond chortle at her expense, "Thanks to your abduction of my Chronosphere you and your dear dunderhead are the unwitting victims of a causal loop."

"A what?"

"A paradox," He shrugged when she glared at him, "All your meeting out of order."

"Yes I know I've had some time to ponder if myself," She nodded, "What of it?"

"With a history as complex as the one you share something was bound to give eventually," He conceded with a grimace, "It was too much without you, without the support of another mind bound to his, a Hightopp trait as I've come to understand it."

"A balance of mind," Alice whispered, "That's what Tyva meant?"

"He could not keep the past and the present in check," Time offered softly, "And it very nearly destroyed him completely."

Her response was a decidedly distraught whisper. "What?"

"It was Dream that discovered his mind lingering in the borderlands between here and the nightmare that lay beyond," He continued with nod toward the gates, "We were called upon to offer what aid we could, but in the end we'd no choice but to bind him away."

"Bind him?" She shook her head still in shock at the carnage she'd caused, "Bind him how?"

"Those moments and memories that bound you together," He supplied, "In hopes that he might remain whole enough to hold out until your return."

"So they're all still there?" She confirmed with a visible sigh of relief, "Merely hidden away?"

"They are," Memory confirmed with a nod as she approached, "As Time did mention, it was only ever intended as a temporary means."

"The bond we share then explaining why he knows who I am." She continued more to herself.

"Why he would always know who you are." Memory corrected.

"And he would have been perfectly fine too if she hadn't turned up and started messing about and trying to worm her way in where she doesn't belong." Time scoffed as his lip curled in disdain.

"Keres?" Alice surmised with a considering tilt of her head, "But why though? For what purpose would anyone target the Hatter of all people?"

"Because you left him open to the interference," An unknown voice supplied somewhat irritably from the ether, "And because in the event of Mirana's incapacity to rule and your absence he becomes the highest authority in all Underland."

"We're championed to the White Queen," Alice murmured her eyes widening in realization, "One of us would rule by proxy?"

"Indeed." The voice confirmed, a tightly robed figure suddenly solidifying tea table and all in the middle of the clearing to gaze at her with startling black orbs as he tapped his fingers absently against his cup.

"Hello, Alice." He greeted with a regal incline of his head and a curl of his lip, "We meet at last."

"Dream." She bid with a nod as she approached and took a seat at his waved invitation. "Keres must be stopped. I'll not let her use my friends as pawns against each other nor inflict any further decline upon my milliner's mind."

"My thoughts exactly," He agreed, his face obscured by a halo of platinum wisps that escaped their binding as he mused over his tea leaves, "Though I'm pleased to inform you your Hightopp is still enough of himself that he's somehow managed to foil her every attempt at entering Marmoreal since they began their acquaintance."

"He knows something's wrong but her poison is destroying what clarity remains." He chuckled in sudden amusement as he weaved a spell out into the night, "Mind a betrothal was certainly a most unexpected turn of events."

"Hardly a laughing matter." Alice groused somehow managing to control the shift of her eyes to some no doubt menacing shade.

"Forgive me pet, I meant nothing by it," Dream assured her gently, his magic pouring out as his siblings joined them for tea, "It merely proves that whomever might be behind this little farce has no blessed idea what they've actually gotten themselves into."

"What do you mean?" She queried taking a sip of tea with a small sigh of relief as the hot liquid hit her throat.

"Tarrant Hightopp is a most loyal creature indeed," He grinned, "I could only dare imagine the retribution he'd seek on behalf of his consort and Queen once he's returned to his right mind."

"Consort?" Alice flinched at the sudden pain in her chest, "You mean Mirana is-"

"Don't be daft girl," Dream chortled, "Your Queen is already bound to another, though how it is you are truly so unawares of the significance of what binds you is beyond me?"

Her eyes widened in surprise, "I'm his consort?"

"Yes of course you are," He scoffed, "You bear a heartstring, even partially intact as yours is it's still the most binding of all rights we here in Underland possess. Which will make tomorrow even more eventful when the meddling slackush scrum attempts to bind herself to him."

"But that can't be right?" Alice muttered in bewilderment, "Surely I would have remembered such an occasion."

"Hence the incomplete nature of your bond." Memory offered with a sympathetic smile, "Though from what I understand it's somewhat rather more complicated for non-clan members."

"Time, place or circumstance are irrelevant when it comes to a Hightopp recognizing kin," Dream explained, "Tarrant has always known that you were someone quite significant to him, it's why he protected you as he did from my dear brother, why he felt compelled to bring you home to his father's shop."

"But why did he never say if all this time-?" Alice murmured.

"I assume he never mentioned it because until now, you've never demonstrated any want to stay."

"Any want-? I've never wanted to leave," She objected, "But I'd a duty to those of my world at the time, my kin that couldn't wait. And aside from that I was child both times I fell down that rabbit hole. I'd needed to grow up, needed to find myself after he'd pointed me in the right direction."

"As did he." Dream mused, his magic dancing about his fingers. "And what of your duty now Alice?"

"I'm here aren't I?" Alice felt her eyes flash at the hidden challenge in his words. "Now tell me what I must do."

"It's quite simple really," Dream lent forward with a knowing curl of his lips. "I release your Hatter's mind, you complete the tether and you both are then free to seek retribution in defense of your Queen."

She nodded, "And how do I complete the binding?"

"You already know how." He breathed, eyes darting to her fingers unconsciously grazing the cut on her palm as she stood.

"Then you've released him?"

His eyes glowed an ethereal silver as he smirked back at her. "I have now."

"Show me then." She pressed as she stood, her palms flat against the table as she gazed back at him.

"Very well." He nodded and with a wave of his hand the scene around them changed.

Her newfound allies and their tea table gone and replaced with a decidedly familiar table and its wing backed chair as well as the man she sought who currently sat gazing up the table at her in surprise.

"Alice." He lisped in astonishment, his entire appearance perking up as he stood. A joyous smile splitting his face as her own smile beamed back in response.

"It's you." She whispered as she took him in from top hat to orange booted toe.

"And you." He grinned as she stepped up and strode along the table. His image flickering in appearance between both versions she'd left behind as he lifted a hand to help her down.

"Oh Hatter," She ignored his offered hand to dive straight off the table into his arms. "I thought I'd lost you."

"For a while there I thought I'd lost me too," He admitted, giggling in delight as he pulled back to observer her with wide curious eyes, "Though I did tell you we'd meet again did I not."

"Oh," Her eyes widened as the memory returned of their final moments oh so long ago, "But how did I forget- how did you-?"

"It matters not why," He shook his head, his abused fingers toying gently with the curls about her face, "Only that you're here now and I'm so very glad that you came for me."

"I'll always come for you," She assured him, grasping the hand by her face to press a kiss to his palm. "No matter what happens, I'll never leave you again."

His vibrant eyes flashed warmly despite the shadows beneath them, his nimble fingers turning the hand in his own to ghost the rip in her skin, "Then you are here for good? You're really staying?"

"Of course," She agreed softly, "Tyva sends her love by the way, and a warning we best not dally should we incur her wrath."

His lip curled into a fond smile, "It was she then who bound you in my stead?"

"No, that was you as I've only recently discovered Mister Hightopp," She tutted, gently tapping his nose with a knowing curl of her lip, "Naughty."

His eyes flashed an unrepentant gold as his lip curled just so. "It would seem I've been quite the slurvish cur indeed."

"Quite so indeed." She agreed, his face fast falling to uncertainty.

"Oh, you're not angry with me though are you Alice?" He bid quietly.

"No, I'm not angry with you Hatter," She assured with a fond shake of her head. "To be honest under the circumstances I'm more relieved than anything else."

He sighed, his body slumping in relief at her admission. "Then I am indeed very glad to hear it."

"Forgive me for leaving you so vulnerable, I didn't realize, didn't know you needed me so-"

"I will always need you," He corrected softly, "Though I should not have been such a coward and told you myself when I'd had the chance."

"What's done is done," She assured him with a small smile, "Though should it happen that you vex me in future, Husband mine-"

She raised an imperious brow as she tugged him closer to whisper across his lips, "You'd be wise in assuring a most vigorous form of apology indeed."

She watched intrigued as his normally overly large pupils dilated even further, their coloration flickering between his usual harlequin green and the startling white amber hue of the Outlander as his grip tightened against her waist.

"Aye Lass."

"Good," She quipped, adjusting his ascot so she might not grin ridiculously at the rather impressive smirk currently plastered across his face, "Then I'm glad we understand one another. Though we've much to do until any such shenanigans might ensue."

"The Queen is in danger." He replied, his expression suddenly serious.

"Dream believes so, yes," Alice nodded meeting his gaze, "It would appear your fiancée has her sights set on Underland's throne."

His eyes flashed amber as he sneered in protest, "She is not-"

"I know." Alice agreed, her own gaze flashing in response to his ire which curled his lip in smug satisfaction.

"Oh stop looking so impressed with yourself." She chastised lightly, "We've retribution to seek."

"That we do my dear," He agreed, Alice gasping as he suddenly curled himself around her, his warm breath ghosting the skin of her neck as he held her, "But we both know this will be last we'll be seeing of each other for a while yet. Not until I am whole once again at least."

"Don't go, not yet," She whimpered into his skin, clutching at his coat, "I've missed you so very much."

"So have I dear." He smiled into her hair, "But I must, and you have a promise to keep."

"I do." She agreed with a watery smile, trying not to panic as he shifted under her grasp, his form beginning to fade in her arms.

"No matter what happens next," He pulled her closer, shifting to lisp ever so quietly against her ear, "Remember that I am already yours dear Alice, whether I be in my right mind or not I am bound to obey the mistress of my heart first and foremost."

Alice found it suddenly quite hard to swallow over the lump that lodged itself in her throat.

"Make me remember." He whispered.

"I will." She promised most ardently as he pulled away with a dip of his hat.

"Then I bid you Fairfarren until we meet again."

"Fairfarren." She sighed as her grip slipped from his abused fingers, her eyes suddenly wide in fear for the future and she couldn't let him go without him knowing the truth. "Hatter wait I-"

"I know." He grinned, his form disappearing from sight completely as a manic giggle echoed throughout the gardens.

"Oh the cheek of it." She huffed, her legs turning her without conscious thought back towards the fountain where the great dragon lay in wait, "You just wait till I get my hands on you Tarrant Hightopp."

"Emrys!" She was running before she knew it, dashing through fig and ferns picking up speed in her excitement. "Emrys!"

Her head snapped to the right at the rumbling growl that echoed back, immediately shooting sideways through the shrubs towards it and breaking through a hedge not a moment later to appear just shy of the creature and the beings stood awaiting her by his side.

"I have to go," She panted, her expression alternating between extreme fatigue and the most ridiculous beaming smile she couldn't quite seem to wipe from her face.

"Yes, we know," Memory chuckled.

"Though before you do," Time stepped forward, a delicate silver chain clasped between his long fingers, "Take this."

"What is it?" Alice frowned as she leant forward and he secured it around her neck, her fingers toying with the small silver charm.

"Protection," He supplied with a gentle curl of his lip, "Or a friend, should you find yourself ever in need of one."

"Or both as the case may be." Memory added with a fond smile.

Alice turned the coin carefully in her fingers, on one side a tiny replica of the grand clock, on the other a white elm enclosed in a shining crystal orb.

"Thank you." She offered them both a weary smile, tucking their gift into the depths of her vest as Dream approached.

"Thank you," She smiled, "For letting me-" She waved behind her, "And for keeping him safe."

"Your Tarrant is loyal, compassionate and dedicated to a cause far beyond himself," He offered with a tilt of his head, "There are too few that can be likened to him in this world."

"Aye," She agreed, "Nor in any other I've found."

"Take care, pet," He offered gently, "For this next path you find yourself on is a dangerous one indeed."

"I will." Alice agreed with a sage nod of her head.

"And do invite himself round for tea once all this is over won't you?" He huffed somewhat irritably as he nodded over his shoulder towards his brother, "It's just my luck that the only person to have befriended him in over a thousand years be destined for sacrifice over some dimwitted ploy to take over the universe."

"I'd quite like my solitude back though if it's all the same to you."

"I'll see what I can do." She snorted as he helped her up onto Emrys neck, her weariness suddenly abating as he drew his hand away and she gaped down at him in awe.

"Better?" He grinned knowingly.

"Much." She agreed with a thankful smile.

"A good night sleep does one a world of good Alice, you'd be wise to remember it."

"Thank you again." She bid as Emrys lifted from his haunches and she fell forward slightly, the trinket around her neck falling to dangle against the beast's scales as she gripped him.

Dream's pale hand grasped the leg closest him gently but firmly. "Do not part with the medallion under any circumstances," He bid vehemently, "For you will need it should the worst come to pass."

"I won't." She assured him, tucking it against her skin once again.

"Good," He nodded, "Now be off, or you'll be late for the wedding."

"Oh I'll be there ahead of time I've no doubt." She smirked over at the man himself.

He shook his head with a tolerant smile. "I'll do what I can."

"As will I." Memory added, her arm hooked through her brother's elbow as she waved her off.

"Until the next time then Pet."

"Goodbye." Alice bid as Dream stepped away and Emrys spread his wings with an almighty push and launched them skyward once more.

"What destination have you in mind now little Champion?" The dragon bid as he eased them through the great gates of Dream's realm just as the rising sun breaching the horizon.

"We return to Marmoreal as fast as you might bare us my friend," Alice declared preemptively tightening her hold on him as they approached the breach, "It would seem we've both a wedding to crash and a kingdom to save."


YAY! OMG peeps thanks for your patience work has just been a biatch! Anywho hope you enjoyed the next installment as much as I did. xo t85