Alice didn't fight, however she didn't make it easy for the guards either, hardly supporting herself as they dragged her out into the town, which brought her very much home. At least the part of home which she hated.
The sky way full of dark clouds and smoke from the chimneys throughout the town. It would seem that compared to Underland, the Outlands were most certainly ahead of their times. Factories, carriages, and cobblestone streets. A fitting scene for the era of an industrial age.
Alice gazed to a prison on wheels, which held the walrus and carpenter, as well as a few other poor souls. She imagined she would be joining them, but her imagination was of no use here, she would be in the horse drawn carriage with Stayne.
He stood at the door, holding it open as she was escorted into the cart, following her close behind, slamming the door behind him. Alice took her place on the farthest most point from Stayne which was the other side of the carriage which held no door, but there was a window to which she directed her attention.
She could feel his satisfied grin as he nestled into the leather seat, his one eyed gaze burning her skin, but she couldn't bear to look at him. It was a long time before either one of them spoke, it wasn't until they no longer had the town behind them and the scenery began to look less than lively. Dead trees clinging to the edges of the road which was no longer of stone but dirt.
"I suppose you have many questions." He spoke with a matter of fact tone. He chuckled softly looking out his own window now.
"Perhaps how I managed to survive yet Iracebeth dead, or how she died. Would you like to hear about how I became a king, or maybe-"
"I want to know what on earth you want from me!" She snapped shooting a distasteful glare his way before turning back to the window to take in the black and gray scene before her. "If you are here to recruit me as your champion, I'm not in the slightest bit interested." She spat which made the man across from her laugh.
"Oh Alice... You may have grown, but you kept your childlike innocence with you after all these years. I admire that. It'll give me yet another thing to take from you." He teased as he repositioned himself as best as he could. The carriage they were in was not exactly custom built for him, but he fit in none the less.
"So naive..." He cooed reaching out to brush her hair but she slapped his hand away without hesitation. He only smiled leaning back to admire her. "But such strong will… Yes. A fine Queen you'll make."
Alice now drew her attention to the man, confusion and rage swelled in her eyes.
"You are far beyond my help Knave." She spat in disgust. "Why, you are by far, the maddest person I ever met if you think that I would marry you! Far madder than the Hatter, Chess and all of Underland combined." The comment made the man in the carriage with her more than upset.
"There are a few things I will no longer accept, so listen well, Alice, because I will not repeat myself..." He hissed. "You will not call me by that title any longer. I am a King now. And I will be held in your eyes as one. Secondly I never wish to hear of your barbaric maniac again. Hightopp scum. Should have gutted him when I had the chance." He spat, jealousy seeping through his voice. "If you disobey these terms of mine, there shall be consequences…"
"So who did you kill for that title?" Alice asked sitting back and folding her arms.
"It was my birth right… Another thing both the Red and White queens robbed from me." He muttered. "Well, maybe not they themselves... But I believe in the sins of the father passing down to his offspring."
"May you never have children." Alice started now which gave her Stayne's full attention. "I fear your sins would be far too much for any child to bear." She said with narrow eyes.
"I long for an heir, Alice, and for a beautiful queen to rule at my side. You will serve both those dreams of mine. It has been written by Time himself." He cooed looking to his gloved hands.
"You lie." Alice whispered, unsure of the truth herself.
"Do I now? Maybe your right, but I like to call it wishful thinking." He said with a smile as the carriage stopped. As Stayne moved to exit the carriage to stretch his limbs, Alice, moved to the window again to take in the sight of the castle before her. It was far larger than Crims, but it did not match the size nor beauty of Marmoreal.
No, where the Knave now called home was something comparable to the gates of Hell. Gothic architecture made beauty mesh with terror. Every shade of black was put into this haunting place, but the silver linings made it so one could appreciate its terrible beauty.
"I would say this is impossible, but that makes it all the more possible." Alice whispered looking back to Stayne who waited for her to climb out herself. She was reluctant to do so, however she knew better than to think that he would not drag her out himself. Upon coming out he offered his hand to help her down, but she avoided his touch once more. She did not catch his look of disappointment either. Her eyes still focused on the domain that would now hold her captive.
"Welcome, to Deces." Stayne began before hooking her arm with his, leaning down to whisper into her ear. "Welcome home, Alice."
Alice glanced up at him, his gaze already away, looking ahead, his head held high and proud like the mighty Lion he thought himself to be as he led his prey into his den.
On the inside, it was just as gruesome as the outside, what windows there were let in very little light, so the halls were lit by candles, the wax staining the walls. Every so often the wall would hold a portrait of figures who were tall gaunt and creepy. A few spinning images of Stayne.
Then came the throne room. The doors were opened for the two by a pair of bear cubs, wearing gray tunics adorned with black Spades. Alice couldn't help but wonder where their mother was.
This was where Deces outshined Marmoreal. The great hall was that very similar to the gothic churches of France, pillars towering high and the hall going long, ending with an apse. Candles were placed upon stands, the floor and on the walls. The throne at the end of the hall was truly fit only for a king, as well as for a man his size, maybe even a little taller.
Clothed in leather and cased with silver, the chair sat centered in the apse of the domain, beside it a smaller chair, silver with black quilted cushions. The head board holding beautiful sapphire stones. This was the area which caught Alice the most. Not because of the chairs, but what was behind them.
In the apse, the windows displayed one of the most beautiful pictures she had ever seen. Stained glass which told a story. A story of Underland. What is, what was, and what will be.
Stayne released his grip, knowing the woman was entranced by his home now, and allowed her to investigate further. Her eyes scanning over the painted glass, she saw her own figure a few times amongst the story. Her arrival to Underland, slaying the Jabberwocky, then again, in a scene which did not look likely to her at all. Her in a black veil, before a tall thin pale man, sliding a ring upon her finger.
Suddenly Stayne began to speak, his voice light as a feather, but his words began to bind her with such a heavy feeling.
THREE CROWNS TO RULE THE LAND
THREE CROWNS TO UNDERLAND
RED, WHITE AND BLACK
THE LINE OF RED, BORN WITH PASSION
WHITE, DELIVERED FROM LIGHT
THEN THE FAMILY OF BLACK
KINDNESS AND COMPASSION THEY LACKED
DARKNESS SIEGED THE LAND OF UNDER
DEVOURING ALL IN ITS PATH
BLACK BROUGHT DEATH AND DISPEAR
TAKING LIFE AND LOVE ALIKE
THE LINE OF RED, AND THOSE OF WHITE
KNEW WHAT WAS RIGHT
THEY SWORE A TRUCE
TO ABOLISH THE DARK NOOSE
BLOOD WAS SHED
LIFE WAS LOST
BUT IN THE END
THE DARKNESS WAS GONE
BLACKNESS DISSOLVED
THERE WAS PEACE FOR ALL
A DAUGHTER FROM RED
A PRINCE OF WHITE
MARRIED, THE TWO LINES UNITE
TWO SUITS TO RULE THE LAND
TWO SUITS FOR UNDERLAND
THREE CHILDREN BORN
AFTER THE WAR
THE FIRST BORN, UNKNOWN
THE SECOND AND THIRD
DERIVED FROM WHITE AND RED
IRACEBETH OF CRIMS
AND MIRANA OF MARMOREAL
ONCE AGAIN WAR WOULD RAGE
AND ONLY A GIRL COULD END IT
A GIRL NAMED ALICE
WITH THE BEAST SLAIN
IT'S NAME NOT TO BE NAMED
WHITE WOULD REIGN
WITH ONLY ONE CROWN IN THE LAND
TIME WILL REVEAL HIS PLAN
TO RESTORE BALANCE TO UNDERLAND
ALICE, THE CHAMPION AND FULL OF MIGHT
MUST CHOOSE WHERE SHE STANDS IN THE FIGHT
BE SACRIFICED, TO RETURN THE RED
TAKE PLIGHT, LEAVE THE LAND TO WHITE
OR BECOME A QUEEN OF BLACK
THREE CROWNS TO RULE THE LAND
THREE SUITS FOR WONDERLAND
BUT ONLY ONE CAN CLAIM
ALICE, THE CHAMPION
"Don't you see Alice…? You were called upon, just as I was." He whispered moving to her, as she began to back to the wall, history repeated and she soon found herself pinned to the wall with Stayne boxing her in, only now he was a good deal larger than her, and she did not have the size, nor the muchness to push him away.
"I am the last of my kin, and you are the first of yours in this world…" He cooed gently as her gaze went to the floor, she began to shake like a leaf in the autumn breeze. "It has been written in time, spoken in many tongues and painted upon these halls." His hands now cupping her chin to lift her gaze to his own. Tears threatening to break free from her dark russet eyes which made the once was Knave smile until words came from her shaken voice.
"The White Queen won't allow this to happen, nor will I." She swore prying his gloved hands from her cheeks and throwing them away. "I will leave Underland if that is what I must do to protect those I care for, even if I may never see them again. Fairfarren, Your Highness." She spat moving to exit to the left only to be caught by the chain of the manacles she still wore.
Pulled back to her spot before Stayne she was forced to the wall, his grip on the manacles chain, he lifted her by the chain up and off the ground until they were eye level. The cuffs digging into her wrists at this position, making the poor girl flinch in pain.
"Your destiny is held right before you, yet you deny it, you deny me?!" He questioned, his gaze searing into hers. "You may be a Champion, Alice, but you have no say here. Not in this land, not in this court, nor against something already set in stone." He warned watching her as she writhed in pain.
"I believe I may be rushing you, dear Alice, this is quiet the challenge, even a champion such as yourself would be in shock on such an honor. To become a queen, rule the Outlands, then Underland."
"I've denied many things in my life, and this would make my second time in denying you, so there is no need to act as if it is a shock." She retaliated. "And The White Queen has defeated you before, and I know as soon as she gets wind of what you have been up to, what you are planning-!"
"She'll what? Hmm?" He spat towering over her. "She took an oath to not harm a single living creature, so she herself in battle is as helpful as a grain of sand when you are dying of thirst!" He hissed. "She cannot defeat me, even if she truly wanted to. Her followers have grown weak since the time of peace. Her greatest asset was you, had it not been for you… She would have been defeated, and I may have never found myself here..."
He lowered her now to the ground and Alice took in the sweet relief of being able to stand upon her own two feet as he himself took a knee, and held her wrists, looking over the damage he had done. Alice tried her hardest to understand the sudden change of heart.
"It is all because of you, sweet Alice. I was not sure when I would see you again. This marks the second time in our lives that you had saved me…" He whispered placing a kiss to one of her nearly bloody wrists which caused a whimper to come forth from her. A wicked smile came onto his lips.
"We've had… differences in the past. I cannot dispel that." He whispered. "But maybe one day you can find it within yourself to accept me, and who knows, maybe even one day you'll love me." His gazed moved back to the young woman before him. "Marry me… Marry me Alice, and together you and I can rule over this land and the next! The Champion of Under and the Lost Child of Black. It's so fitting." He whispered which earned him a glare.
"Ilosovic Stayne, know this!" She started pulling away, his hold no longer on her. "I shall not accept your hand, not tonight, nor anyone after this. All the pain you've cause to the world I love, those that I care for. I will NEVER love you." She warned, her eyes catching a new emotion on his face, but it was short lived. He rose to his feet and towered over her once more, his face tightened into a look of pure anger. He quickly seized her by her arm and dragged her out of the beautiful hall and into the belly of the castle.
"If you see me as such a monster, perhaps I should become what you so wish me to be." He growled, his pace fast which made it nearly impossible for her to keep up. When it came to the stairs, she had stumbled several times and would have stumbled several more time had Stayne not swept her up into his arms bridal style. Up and up they went until they met a single wooden door. Setting her down he opened the door and shoved her inside, sending her to the floor.
"You can deny me all you want Alice, but you will see my way, soon enough." He spat shutting the door behind him and moved past her to the balcony. "So unless you wish to remain in solitary, I would implore you to reconsider." He called over his shoulder, both hands on the balcony rail.
Alice gave a sigh at Stayne's relentlessness. How could this mean so much to him? Because it was told before? Did everything here have to happen just because someone said it would?
"I won't." She muttered watching him as she stood on her feet once more, in time to see her capture slam his fists against the rail before turning to retreat out the door, only to stop just past her. He stood still for several moments.
"I will send a servant for food and a bucket to wash yourself in." He spat, more upset at himself for still showing her some mercy.
She said nothing, she only kept her hands her wrists nervously. He looked back to her before cursing something to himself under his breath and departed from the tower, locking the door as soon as he shut the door once more. Alice didn't move from her spot until his footsteps had died away.
Once she felt it was safe to move again she went to the balcony in hopes to get a better idea of where she was. Before her was a forest of deathly looking trees, and only just past that did she see the smoke from the city, but not the actual city itself, and past that nothing. To her right, the forest continued to span, and her left was where she saw the sea. The Castle of Deces stood on a cliff and the tower she stood on now was right over the jagged rocks that meshed with the breaking waves and clung to the earth wall.
Where Underland was from this point she could not say. Even if she did know where she was in comparison, it did her very little good. She slunk to the balcony floor, defeated for the moment. How was she to break free from here?
Tarrant slammed his open palms against the table before him. He had brought the news of the Oraculum's future in hopes of gathering the White Knights to rescue Alice. The scroll had already displayed Stayne capturing her, yet Mirana had to call upon her court for a decision.
Tarrant Hightopp, even in his sane youth, never liked to waste time. He had marked him once before and he never intended to do it again. Yet here they were, wasting time on IF they should rescue their champion.
The only thing worse than the wasted time spent on voting IF they should rescue her or not, was the fact that nearly the entire court was against the rescue.
"My Queen!" The Hatter growled, doing his best to remain in control. "Please, we can't just sit back and allow this horrible event to take place!"
The White Queen sat upon her pedestal before the court room, her eyes so full of sadness for her beloved friend and the fate of their champion.
"Tarrant." She started but her hatter knew the words she had chosen already.
"Ay do nut care fo' what yer bloody scroll sess." He hissed, his entire body shaking. "We ar' to rescue our champion." He demanded his eyes now a shade of dark crimson orange.
"We cannot!" Came a voice belonging to the white rabbit, Nivens McTwisp, the white queen's most trusted advisor. "If the Oraculum says it is to be, than we cannot interfere. It is her destiny. As deplorable as it seems, we must leave her, and prepare for the aftermath."
"Alice would save us." He whispered looking around to the court. "She would! Aye! She came back for me, and Mally, and ev'n you McTwisp! N' yet you sey we can't."
The white rabbit looked down in shame at the comment, but the queen now stood tall.
"Tarrant Hightopp!" She shouted which caused everyone but the hatter to flinch at her voice. She recollected herself before speaking again.
"Tarrant, it is out of our hands..." She whispered. "It is unfortunate to say the least, but we cannot risk the journey or our lives on something that has already been called for." She whispered in sadness, but he still did not waiver his gaze, nor dismiss his rage. "I am sorry."
"Underland's mos' beloved figure is goin' to be forced to marry a man, so cruel and vulgar, that ev'n de mos vile N' venomous creatures shrink be'fo em. A man, responsible fo the deaths of my people, who looked to you!" He shouted pointing at her now, with his bandaged fingers. "Fo' protection from yer sister and er dogs... but yer sorry?" He asked with a scoff. "Well if that is how ye'll 'ave it, so be it!" He spat looking around.
"If any of ye in here ar still tru to Alice, and brave enou'f to rescue er then come wit me now, or forev'r hold yer regret's wit yeself and ye kin." He spat before exiting the court room, only the eyes of those in the room followed him out.
Out in the courtyard, Mallymkun and Thackery sat along the edge of a garden, waiting for the leader of their little mad trio. Mallymkun sat polishing off her sword, which in actuality was only a needle, but she took pride in her weapon non the less, where Thackery was on one of his infamous banters to himself. The two both stopped what they were doing immediately upon seeing Tarrant striding towards them, his eyes burning like the flames he so longed to forget.
"Atter?" Mally piped sheathing her blade, worried she scurried to meet him, however he passed her without so much as a glance in her direction.
"Oh no!" Whimpered the March hare, tearing a nearby plant, roots and all and hid his face behind it in hopes to not catch his glare.
Mally frowned seeing the Hatter in such a disturbed state, she didn't need an explanation, the motion of a rescue mission for Alice had been denied.
"Oh Hatter..." She whispered, her gaze cast down to the ground before she puffed up her chest and ran after him.
"I'm goin' on me own to sav' Alice, Mally." The mad man spat his eyes still ahead.
"No ye ain't!" Shouted the mouse. "I'm comin with ya, as is Thackery!" who dropped his plant at the invitation.
"I am?" He called from across the courtyard.
"YES!" Shouted the wee but mighty mouse.
"NO! No one is going but I!" He spat before looking to the looks upon his friends faces. His expression soften and his eyes back to his green. "I can't take you with me Mally. It's far too dangerous for a door mouse." He whispered getting on both his knees to level himself to his friend the best he could.
"Oi! I'm a big help!" She snapped pulling out her needle to fight imaginary opponents. "What if ya get in a tight spot?! And Thack- Well... Thackery has a good shot with tea cups!" Which got a roar of laughter from the hare.
"…Cup?" His gaze not set on anything in particular. The hare lost his mind long before Alice had ever arrived.
"I'm sorry Mally, it will just be me, please." He whispered getting to his feet again. The mouse began to clench her paws at his stubbornness.
"Well if you won't take us!" She shouted as mightily as her voice could. "At least ask Chessur for help." She pleaded. The Hatter sighed and gave a curt nod before retreating from the pair and out of Marmoreal.
He would at least do that for his friends, but only because he knew what the cat's reply would be.
"I never get involved in politics." Chessur replied to the question Tarrant asked only because of his obligation.
Upon hearing the answer he was looking for the mad man turned to leave only for the cat to be right in his path.
"Tarrant, you can't be considering going to the Outlands all by your lonesome… Can you?" He asked floating in midair. "Why, have you ever been to the Outlands? It's quiet dreadful." Tarrant frowned at the large tabby before him.
"Well I must go! Alice needs me!" He muttered in defense.
"Does she need you?" Chessur asked twirling around him. "Or is it that you need her?" He purred which made the hatter jump.
"Wh- what in Underland are you going on about?!" Tarrant asked moving away from the cat and to a nearby tree. "This is ridiculous, I must be going really! Now. Which direction IS the Outlands?" He asked peering over his shoulder. The cat chuckled, now in the branch just above his head.
"Tarrant, look at yourself. You are a mess!"
"Well! You never see me criticize you when you look all out of sight and what have you!" Tarrant accused moving from the tree only to have his hat plucked from his head as he moved away again.
"Be honest with me. Who needs whom here?" The cat asked without a smile. "… Had she needed you, she would not have left you in the first place." The hatter's expression reflected his broken heart, for which the cat had no sympathy for.
"She had things to do." Tarrant whispered, his voice pained. "She would have stayed otherwise…" He whispered.
"Oh, and how are you so sure?"
"I don't know." His eyes gray and focused on the decaying floor below him.
"What was that, old friend? Speak up?"
"I DON'T KNOW!" He shouted, wounded from the questions. He was angry, but he could only express one emotion at a time, and pain was the strongest one now, tears streaming down his pale face. Still the cat lack expression.
"What do you know?" The feline asked, almost impatient.
The hatter stood, his whole body shaking at the cruelty of his friend. To share a cup of tea with his friends had never been a problem, but his feelings? Why he could hardly contain them himself! To burden anyone with his thoughts would be a crime indeed.
"I- I know, that I care for Alice... very much so. And that... I hate that worm of a man, and that-"He swallowed hard trying his best to come up with the right words. "And if Alice were to be united with anyone, this world or the next… I would hope it would be me." He admitted, his eyes shut tight until he felt the weight of his hat upon his head again.
"I'm not one for debates, it often leads you away from the truth." Chessur spoke solemnly. "I will help you."
The hatter could only smile now as he began to wipe his tears away, his bandages picking up the moisture with such a thirst.
"Now then. Let's go save Alice!"
Many thanks to all nine of you who are following me currently, and an additional to the six who have this story on their favored list.
To Tendersparks and Wonderland212, I try to be as original as I can, not to mooch off of other stories for my own ideas, however I have noticed that I am not the first to imagine Stayne being a King of Black. I'm quiet interested in those stories, but I have to refrain from reading them at least until I finish this series.
In response to Annabeth Chase The Wise Girl's comment on the series, I want to stay true to both Burton's and Carrol's vision as best as I can. I know a lot of people who disagree with Burton's style, claiming it had butchered the original works but I personally like the fact that he had inserted a reason for the madness.
On a side note I've caught word that they are making a sequel for the 2010 film, and as much as I would like to see it I don't think I can with the knowledge that The Knave of Hearts (as of now) won't be in the film, which upsets me quiet a bit. As much as I loved the other characters I feel that Stayne is by far the strongest character in the film, a true villain though and though and I hope they explore that character more, but if not than I suppose that is what fanfiction is for.
Thank you all again, and I hope to have the next chapter up within the next month or less. Feel free to message me in regards to this story or even to debate on the actual film, original story and the film to come in 2016.
~Mandi
