Alice still had not bathed herself in the tub that was offered to her, the once warm waters now at a chilled temperature and she longed to wash the salt from her skin, but she was left with a very frustrating dilemma. She still wore her shackles, which made it impossible to remove the garments she wore from the waist up.

She searched the room for something that could either aid her in removing the cuffs or even cutting the clothing that was preventing her from sinking into the rose-scented waters but not even pin was found.

However, she did find some things of interest to her within the room in the tower. A few books, all of which to her astonishment held no pictures, a quill with ink, a blank journal, it looked as though it once had an owner but the pages were torn out, and finally a letter. The envelope held no name to who or where it should go to.

She hesitated, unsure if she should read the letter, but what else was she to do? She could not rinse herself of the sea, nor could she change, and she wasn't sure how long she would be in the tower for, so to start a book she may never finish didn't make sense.

Opening the letter, she found that it wasn't a letter at all, but more so verses, it all sounded very familiar to her, yet it held not an atom of meaning. Not to her at least.

They told me you had been to her,

And mentioned me to him:

She gave me a good character,

But said I could not swim.

He sent them word I had not gone

(We know it to be true):

If she should push the matter on,

What would become of you?

I gave her one, they gave him two,

You gave us three or more;

They all returned from him to you,

Though they were mine before.

If I or she should chance to be

Involved in this affair,

He trusts to you to set them free,

Exactly as we were.

My notion was that you had been

(Before she had this fit)

An obstacle that came between

Him, and ourselves, and it.

Don't let him know she liked them best,

For this must ever be

A secret, kept from all the rest,

Between yourself and me."

Alice stared at the words, trying her hardest to make sense of it all but failed. As she was folding the poem up to return it to its original place, the door was unlocked and swung open. Stayne entered with a few men trailing behind him along with the aroma of food that hung heavily in the air. It was in this moment that Alice realized how famished she was. She quickly hid the letter in her coat pocket then rose to meet Stayne who was looking at her as though she were a rat who just climbed out of the sewers.

"I understand that you want to prove how much muchness you have, dear Alice, but to deny yourself of food and proper hygiene is not the best strategy and rather unwise." His voice purred with disappointment.

In response to the statement, Alice only attempted to remove her coat, eyeing him with such a look a tutor would give a student when they failed to answer the simplest questions.

Sighing at the now obvious issue, Stayne's hand went to his belt removing a ring of keys and motioned her to move to him. She remained put which made the man narrow his eye. She was testing him, and he was going to fail that test.

Practically gliding over to her he proceeded to remove the manacles from her wrists, tossing them onto her bed with little care. Once free of the iron, Alice tended to the raw areas with care.

"Thank you." She muttered, not truly meaning it, but she was thankful to be free from the horrid things. Her gaze then shifted to the men who had set up a table and began to set the said table with food, wine and tableware.

"I can't have you being malnourished," Stayne spoke before she could refuse the food. "You are a guest... Not a prisoner." He spoke, though he was more so reminding himself of this fact.

"So I suppose leaving those bloody things on me and keeping me locked in this tower is just for show?" Alice retorted with her eyes on the table with a mouthwatering feast.

"Swearing? Well, well, well, Alice. I must be mistaken, the Alice I remember never held touch a tongue." He mused, unsure if he was delighted by language or upset at her already tainted innocence.

"I spent some time at sea, it's only natural to pick up sea legs as well as a sailor's mouth," Alice replied looking to the men as they now exited the room, and Stayne took a seat at the table set for two, setting the keys on the table.

Picking up the bottle of red wine, Stayne poured the contents of the bottle into the chalises placed at the table. His eye never leaving her as she came closer, her eyes devouring the sight already. He couldn't help but release a chuckle.

"If you are waiting for my permission to eat, you don't need it." He called motioning to take a sip from his cup.

"Actually I was waiting for you to leave," Alice stated, forcing the man to put the cup down.

"Alice, my little wildflower," Stayne started, his voice soft but strung as he began to lose his patience.

"If I was a wildflower I would be out free to roam Underland as I pleased!" Alice shouted. She was thoroughly frustrated with her visit to 'Wonderland' thus far and with Stayne as her host there was little chance of her finding joy. "I wouldn't be forced to wilt in this place."

"Ah, but then you wouldn't be mine," Stayne said simply.

"I never was, Knave," Alice hissed back as she folded her arms.

Initially, Stayne was taken aback by her muchness. It was rare for most to have such will against him, especially a woman. He may have liked challenges, but he wasn't fond of rejection, and that's all this girl held for him now.

"Fair enough, Alice! You were not mine in the past, however, the future tells of us together and-"

"The future can be rewritten." Alice simply stated moving to the bed. "You may tell stories of our marriage, but all I see is White. White knights destroying this forsaken place, freeing your slaves and putting you in solitary confinement, to spend the rest of your miserable days, alone, so you can no longer poison these lands."

"Oh, I'm not the one who poisons minds, Alice." Stayne muttered with his eye back upon his drink. "Such a childish thing to think. The White Court coming to rescue you." He scoffed taking a swing of his cup, emptying it now, and he moved to pour himself another as Alice turned to face him once more.

"They will come for me, just as I had gone to their aide! The White Queen will-"

"Mirana will do no such thing." He said with a grin, eyeing her in such a manner that sent shivers down her spine. His black eye seemed to penetrate her very soul.

"I was a little worried about that too…," The Black King admitted. "That Mirana would interrupt our honeymoon. It would seem, however, that your precious queen has no real objection to our fated engagement. In fact, she even refused to send a rescue team."

Alice remained still, her eyes burning and her blood began to boil, her stomach in coils.

"You lie," Alice said which caused an eruption of laughter from the thin man, as though she had told a funny joke.

"I would never lie to you, Alice."

"But you would. You are a liar, Stayne. A lying, cowardly knave who has taken up a crown meant for thieves. A hollow crown. It suits you." She whispered.

Stayne's eye failed to meet Alice's now. Even locked in a tower with little hope of escape she still bore the will of a champion. By the Black, he could not have asked for a fiercer opponent, nor a nobler wife, but he worried that Alice's blade of resilience against him may never dull.

"I say again, Alice, I would not lie to you." His hand gripping the empty chalice before him. "If you wish for evidence, I will get it for you. If I prove my word would you then reconsider my hand?"

"I fail to see how you could bring fact to such a lie! Why, to even say that The Queen won't come is-"

"It is the truth, Alice!" Stayne shouted and rose to his feet. Both palms on the table and his eye shut tight. "You hold no faith in me, and I can come to understand that, even though it pains me, but why, Alice, tell me why you think so highly of her?!"

"Because she is of the light, as your silly fable said." Alice began. "She is pure of heart, kind and true."

"The light holds illusions, Alice. It's nothing but a show," Stayne growled eyeing her once again. "She does that you know. Makes everyone believe she is such a perfect soul, but she is far crueler than I." He warned, stepping away from his seat and began his advance towards her.

"She has no reason for illusions or cheap tricks." Alice began, distancing herself as much as she could from the man before her. "All of Underland loves her!"

"Ah, but does she love them in return? If she did hold such devotion for her people, pray tell why she hasn't rallied her forces to save her beloved champion?"

"They probably don't even know I'm here yet!" Alice shouted as she began to back herself up upon the bed, not at all pleased to see Stayne following her to the foot of the bed.

"Oh, but the Oraculum does. Care to guess who holds it?" Stayne asked, his hands grabbing at both posts for the bed. "They know exactly where you are, Alice."

"Then you must have your men guarding the border!" the woman replied, her hand moving to the single pillow on her bed, the shackles she once wore resting on them now. "That is why their rescue efforts are delayed!"

"Ask anyone here, and they will tell you it is not I who guards the edge of Under and Out, but The White," Stayne said as he inspected the bedposts. "I speak true, Alice. You can deny me and my words all you like, but that will change nothing." He whispered now, a grin on his thin lips. "What reason do I have to lie to you?"

"Your reasons are your own and I wish to not know of them!" She scolded in fury. "I just know I cannot trust you."

"Oh but why does Mirana get your loyalty?" He asked, remaining where he stood. "Because she recruited you as her champion? She only did so because the Oraculum instructed her to do so. Why, if that damn scroll instructed her to marry a pig she would do it without question," Stayne said smiling at the thought.

"And what are you doing now?!" Alice retorted gripping at the shackles, a plan formulating now. "You are truly no better than her when it comes to following something other than your will."

Stayne thought about this for a moment, his gaze on her.

"What leads you to believe that I would want to marry someone other than you?" He asked in return.

"You like largeness, which I am not." She stated, drawing back upon the memory of him pressing her in the Red Queen's halls as she carried on with the ruse of being Um.

"What you lack in size you make up for in muchness," Stayne assured, his head now turning in the direction of the balcony. "I fail to think of a better match than you and I, Alice." He whispered as he pushed off the bedposts and moved for the door, grabbing the keys as he passed by the table.

"I'll leave you to your bath and food now, dear Alice." He called from over his shoulder. "I shall see to it that someone fetches you in the morning. Sleep well." And with that he left the tower, locking her in once more.

Alice was mixed on his departure. She was glad to be rid of his sight, however, she was confused with their conversation. She was rather thick when it came to men's attempts to woo her, however if she didn't know any better she would have sworn that the knave did hold affections for her but she shook the thought away. He was just like the men back in her world. Marriage was a strategic move to gain power. That's all it was to most of the men she attracted in London and that was how it was with Stayne now.

Then there was the matter of his comments on the Queen. The maids from before had mentioned that the White Knights guarded the border, but that could have been a lie thought of ahead of time. And even if it were true it may only be to ensure those banished from Underland stayed out of Underland.

Alice sighed heavily throwing herself down onto the bed. Her eyes on the feast before her. She was ever so hungry, but she noted how Stayne did not eat so much as a grape. Was it poisoned? Surely something so pleasing to the senses could not be.

It was clear Stayne had no intention of killing her, otherwise, he would have done it already, and by the scene in the playhouse, he would not be so kind as to let her die from something as simple as a poisoned meal.

Her stomach growled, now joining the argument in her head. She criticized her weak will and made her way over to the table, digging into buffet before her, no longer caring for the outcome.


Stayne cursed softly under his breath as he paced the courtyard. This would be a time he would request the audience of a royal advisor, but he had slain the last one he had some time ago. The fool tried to convince him to try to set up a truce between the Black and White crowns.

How could he consider such an idea? But the question made him pause. How could he expect Alice to accept his offer? She was so stubborn, reckless and unforgiving.

"And beautiful." He noted out loud, though no one was around to hear it. His followers knew well enough to stay out of his way when in the courtyard.

His gaze moved to the tower above him. Was there no way to convince her? She would not go on faith in the Oraculum, nor by his word that Mirana was just as cruel as her sister.

'Ah, but I hadn't even told her half of the story of the White Witch.' He mused to himself, but it was still of no use. It was clear the girl did not trust him. He wasn't out for her trust, but it would make things easier. At the moment, Stayne, was truly regretting gutting his last advisor.

It was as though Time himself had heard his plea, because the Rat from the city's auction came scrambling out from the overgrown shrubbery, once at the King's feet he bowed so low, his nose touched the floor beneath them, Stayne eyeing the creature with little curiosity.

"Your Highness!" He piped. "I bear news, there has been a sighting of the last Hightopp in the city!" The high pitch voice piped.

Stayne was now at the creature's becking call, kneeling as best as he could, still a great deal taller but it was a relief to the rodent's neck.

"I did not expect him to arrive so soon, nor to get through the land so easily." He hissed, a gloved hand running through his hair in distress.

"He has a Cat as a companion, a cat that can sail through the air, Sir."

"Of course. That blasted cat and its apparition skills." Stayne muttered, now looking back to the rat before him. "Where?!"

"Well, Sir, I will be more than happy to give you that information, but you see I am in need of payment-" The man's hands now on his fur.

"I will not only let you keep your tail, but consider you for the position of my Royal Advisor, now speak!"

"The Black Kettle!" The rat squealed, in fear of losing not only his favorite appendage but a job that was not yet promised to him. Stayne shoved the rodent away and got to his feet, making haste for the armory. He had an ambush to order now.


The cat and The Hatter sat in the far back of the tavern, close to the fireplace. While Chessur observed the character's they shared the place with, Tarrant kept his eyes upon the flames which both shared the same hue of orange.

"Do ye' s'pose Alice accept's the slug's proposal Chess?" The feline sighed heavily at the question, picking up his cup, adding another cube of sugar to the bitter substance.

"Tarrant, I highly doubt Alice would accept his hand. You know better than that." He groaned as he moved to test the coffee once more.

"But what if he takes her by force?!" He asked now fearful, his eyes a bright yellow as the met the eyes of his friend "What if-"

"Hush Tarrant." The cat scolded setting his cup down. "Even if that were the case it would not go in The Knave's favor. The legend tells that Alice must make her choice by will! So if Stayne were to make her his bride, then it would be easily annulled."

This bit of news did not seem to help the mad man's fear much, but at least he knew Alice would never accept Stayne as a mate by choice.

"Chess, I don't think I properly thanked you for helping me."

"Think nothing of it, Tarrant, so long as you don't try to wring my neck again we are quite even."

"I started a hat for you." This statement caught the cat's attention immediately.

"Well, I suppose a new hat may be payment enough, so long as it out does that number on your head now." He said with a wink.

The hatter smiled in return and made a motion to continue their conversation when both the front entrance and the door which lead to the kitchen were broken in by an onslaught of figures cloaked in black, no doubt they were Stayne's men.

The pair immediately sprung to action, fighting them off was not on their agenda, but escaping.

"Quickly Tarrant! The stairs!"

"Already ahead of you, you clever cat, you!" He shouted in reply, flipping the table over which bought the pair a few extra moments as the fled to the staircase. Perhaps they could escape from the second floor.

Once upon the second floor, Tarrant retrieved the key for the door that the pair had purchased for the night and entered the room, locking it shut behind them, then proceeded to barricade the door shut with the wardrobe and night table.

Moving to the window, the pair spied out the window to see what their odds were, which wasn't in their favor.

A small armada awaited for word of victory, and worse still, the knave was nowhere in sight. Tarrant could end this whole thing in a single shot if it were presented to him. Cursing at their lack of luck, Tarrant slid down to the floor and looked about the room for another plan, but the window was their only way out now.

"Chess. Ye' need to go now."

"Tarrant, I know fighting isn't my style, but I can't leave you to this!"

"Ye' ave te' Chess. Alice needs us. I'll be taken captive. Ye can release me AFTER ye find Alice!"

The cat pressed his ears back, but complied by vanishing in a puff of smoke, leaving Tarrant to his fate by sailing out of the crack of the window.

Tarrant remained still, watching as his friend made it off to safety when an ax began to hack into the door. At this point, Tarrant knew well enough to not resist the arrest. The only comfort he had now was at least once taken prisoner, he would be taken to Alice.

Chessur never let the hatter out of his sight as he was hauled out into the city streets, still no Knave within sight, and luckily no execution orders either. It was rare, but it did happen from time to time, but these days most of the executions were done by the knave himself.

They left the city, Tarrant was thrown into a cart all by himself and they journeyed through the Seether Forest, and Deces Castle was now coming into view. Tarrant's eyes a deep red, a color that he disliked to show very much, but it was an appropriate emotion coursing through him now.

Chessur was now at a crossroad, as the men clad in black took Tarrant out, chains and all. He felt it was best to remain in a safe distance from his friend, just in case luck would come into play and Tarrant would be left alone. However, Tarrant did say his rescue should come after he found Alice. With no other items left to debate on, Chess left in search of Alice, checking the kingdom bottom up.

The cat had finally made it to the tower, a good hour into his search and found Alice sitting in a tub with her eyes closed.

"Well," purred the cat hovering on the balcony which got Alice's attention immediately. "It would seem you got the best room in the whole palace." His form now making its way to the table, looking at the leftovers, which there were plenty of.

"Chessur?! How ever did you find me?!" Alice shouted with joy reaching for the towel which was just out of her grasp.

"Well I was led here thanks to Tarrant. He is a prisoner by the way." He called picking though the grapes but ended up settling for a slice of cake. "I highly doubt that he will be given the same treatment as you though."

"But if you are here now, isn't the White Queen coming?" Alice asked, finally grasping the towel and quickly got up and wrapped it around herself making her way towards the bed for the clothing that was left for her.

The feline paused at the question, the wide and familiar grin she had associated with the cat was not found on his muzzle. His eyes met hers and she failed to understand the meaning of such a simple gaze.

"Turn around Chess, I need to get dressed!"

The cat grumbled something but only turned his head around, while the rest of his body still faced her.

"Alice, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we were the only ones to come." He spoke, Alice throwing on the dress which had been laid out, and her apprentice jacket as quickly as she could.

"Nonsense!" Alice snapped. "Surely you tease me now… don't you?" She asked now clothed moving to the cat, placing a hesitant hand onto his shoulder. "Chess, tell me they are on their way." The cat sighed, turning his head around.

"Only us, Alice. Only us." Alice felt her heart sink deep within her chest. Stayne spoke true then? "But- Why? Surely-"

"The Oraculum. It's not an honorable thing to go against Time's will." Alice furrowed her brow at the comment. There was no time to argue on politics now though, Tarrant had come for her, and now she had to go to him.

"Let's go get Hatter. Then we can hold a discussion with The Queen." She muttered moving to the door, now remembering it was locked, and before Alice could make a request, Chessur was already picking the lock with his claws, setting her free.


Stayne grinned as the hatter was led into the throne room, chains jingling to each step he took. The mad man never seemed to fit in anywhere he went. Sticking out like a sore thumb as always, or at least since his clan had been wiped off the map of Under. Tarrant called it a slaughter, Stayne would now argue that it was long-awaited revenge.

"I am quite upset you know!" Stayne called from his seat, a goblet of wine in his hand. "I would have loved so much to behead my favorite trio, but I suppose the ring leader will have to do." No response came from The Hatter yet, which dampened Stayne's good mood.

"Nothing to say, Hightopp? Normally you are so witty and charming and utterly annoying!" boasted the Black King as he rose to his feet unsheathing his blade and circled around his prisoner, a slight skip in his step. "How to end the line of the Hightopps?" He mused. "Should I be a merciful opponent and cut off your head, let you hang, or maybe I should drag it out in the dungeon?"

He faced Tarrant once more, lifting his chin up with his blade. "What shall it be, Tarrant? A lifetime of suffering, or a quick slice to end your miserable life?"

"I den't care wat ye do ye slurvish hound!" Tarrant spat glaring at the Black King. "As long as ye set Alice free, ye can gut meh and hang meh by meh own inards if it so pleases ye." Stayne laughed, pulling himself away from the mad man.

"You really did come for her, didn't you? Oh you welp!" Stayne shouted with glee. "You love her. You poor miserable fool. You didn't come to stop me from ruling or for revenge... You came to stop the wedding." He whispered with a grin. "So, my favorite little mad man. What day has Alice decided to marry me on?"

Tarrant's eyes turned to a shade of yellow now, searching the former knave's face for his answer.

"… Alice hasn't agreed to marry you?" He asked. Hope. There was still hope. Ilosovic's eye now showing regret for the question.

"She hasn't!"The Hatter shouted happily from his knees. "Oh stupendous! I knew my Alice wouldn't accept such a beastly man as yourself!" He said clapping his hands together, laughing wildly looking to the guards behind him now who were rather put off by the news that the champion had not accepted their king.

Stayne felt the tides shift in the room. He had to assert dominance once more to show his followers he was their king.

"Silence you mercury intoxicated fool!" Stayne shouted, enraged by The Hatter's very existence. "Hold him down! I wish to send The White Queen's wedding invitation stuffed in his decapitated head!" He screamed, his voice booming over the hatter's continued laughter, snorting every now and again.

The two guards look to one another for reassurance but complied grabbing Tarrant by his shoulders, forcing him down, which was not a hard task to do. The man was still in a fit of laughter, which only infuriated Stayne further.

Gripping the hilt of his sword he lifted the blade over his head.

"Any last words, Hightopp?" He asked in a hiss, seething with anger, the man below still laughing with delight nodded.

"She won't have-" but his speech was cut off by the splitting sound of the doors crashing open to reveal Alice. Silence overcame the room as all eyes turned to the young woman in the dark blue dress. Not even a breath was taken at the surprise entrance until Alice rushed for the scene.

"Keep her back!" Stayne ordered, the pair of guards looked at each other once again, the one to the right only gave a silent nod and rushed for the approaching Alice.

"Stayne! Please, I beg of you!" She cried pushing against the guards and continued to make her way towards the friend from her childhood, a sad sort of smile on his lips, his eyes the color of the sky on a clear sunny day.

"Alice... It's alright... Go back home. There are things you still need to do." He whispered as she fell to her knees before him, cupping his white face in her frail, shaking hands. "I'm fine."

"No. No you're not Hatter." She scolded now looking to Stayne who still held the blade above Tarrant. His eye not on Tarrant, but on her. He was infuriated, he wanted to scream, to kill the last Hightopp, to lock Alice away so not another soul other than himself could see her again, but he remained still. Paralyzed even.

Removing herself from The Hatter, Alice stood up and placed herself between Tarrant and Stayne, her eyes on the verge of producing tears.

"Ilosovic Stayne. I beg of you, spare him." She whispered watching him with glassy eyes. Stayne scoffed lowering his blade and began to circle the pair.

"I hold more reasons to slay him than to spare him. Not even a single reason to let him live sits in my mind. Even if The Oraculum forbid his death at my hands I would take it. Try to give me a reason to not end his life now."

Alice bit her lip but did not back down from her position. Her eyes went to the floor then, she muttered something to which not a soul heard in that room.

"Speak up, Alice, I'm beginning to lose my patience with you!" Stayne spat, now before her having made a full circle around the pair.

"I'll marry you!" Alice shouted. "If you release Hatter and get him back to Underland, I will marry you Ilosovic Stayne." She continued, her words stirring Tarrant into a frenzy.

"Alice, no, ye' can't do this!" He shouted trying to get to his feet, but the guards from before held him in place. "Leave this awful place! Leave meh b'eynd. Jes go!" He shouted, but Alice remained still.

Stayne eyed Alice with scrutiny. She wasn't going to take his hand because he had won her over. She was sacrificing herself for the mad man. It would still be by her will, but he had hoped that she would of held love for him, rather than fear. 'Was it not better to be feared than loved?' he had once asked The Red Queen. He couldn't say for sure, but from experience, he dealt with fear more often than love.

"You would take my hand, to save his neck?" Stayne asked, biting back his rage.

"I would," Alice confirmed without hesitation.

"As much as it pain's me..." Stayne began as he sheathed his blade. "I will accept this deal. Your hand in place of his head." He agreed. "He will remain in the dungeon until we are wed. Assurance that you don't get cold feet, Alice..." He hissed, shooting a glare to the last Hightopp again, who was now in a state of pure anguish, his eyes a sullen and lifeless gray.

"Say what you need to the peasant. Next time you see him, Alice, you'll be a Queen." And with that Stayne stormed out of the grand hall, victorious in the end, but sore on the reason for this won battle.

Alice now turned back to Tarrant's eyes swelling with tears, but she had to be strong now. Her hands upon his face once more but he hardly took notice.

"It's all my fault," Tarrant whispered, his eyes on the floor.

"You came to rescue me Hatter, you can not blame yourself." Alice scolded. "Had Mirana aided you, we would be on our way back to your place in time for evening tea." She whispered but the man shook his head violently.

"No Alice, ye don get it." He hissed. "I went against the Oraculum. And in doing so… I made this happen." Tarrant whispered. "Had I not been here, ye wood ave held out. That knave would not ave me ova ye head." He mourned. "It's me falt." He whispered looking to Alice. "Forgive me."

Alice smiled softly, she pitied the hatter, though she pitied herself more. She pressed her lips to his forehead, a gentle kiss to help ease his mind.

"You are not the one who should be asking for forgiveness, Hatter." She assured before the guards lifted the broken-hearted man and dragged him out of the room.


Just bumped the rating to M, I want to be on the safe side but I might put in smut. I'm a sucker for it, I'm sorry.

From this chapter on things are going to be darker, and not just from Stayne's bursts of rage, but from all corners of Underland. Exploring both Tarrant's and Stayne's past, as well as looking at Mirana's less than ladylike side and see Iracebeth's death. On the bright side, there is a wedding coming up. xD

As always, comments are greatly appreciated.