Only when Alice felt that she had put a considerable distance between herself and Marmoreal she stopped running. Leaning against the trunk of a tree Alice took in a deep breath as she slid to the ground. And then came the tears.
It was frustrating to say the least, she had been mourning the man for six years on and off, but with evidence of his passing in her pocket, Alice found herself in a far more vulnerable state of mind. Digging her hand into her pocket she gripped onto the finger and pulled it out to view. Her gaze was locked onto the black wedding band recalling the day that she had placed the ring onto his hand. The marriage that she didn't want had become something that she truly cherished, that she had longed to enjoy again, and had given her Charles, the most precious gift she had ever possessed.
Prying the ring off of the mummified finger, Alice tried to fit the ring onto one of her fingers but they were all too small to fit. A solution came to Alice's mind as she set the finger aside and removed the pearl necklace that she had been gifted from her mother on the day of the intended engagement to Hamish and dropped the ring onto the chain before placing the necklace back on again, wrapping her hand protectively over the token and set her gaze up to the forest canopy.
Alice was not expecting the canopy to be staring back.
"Chessur?" Alice spoke out, hesitant on rising to her weary feet so soon after her escape. "Cheesur, is that you?" The eyes closed and Alice groaned in frustration. "I suppose Mirana has convinced you to forget about me as well, hasn't she?" Alice muttered bitterly as she pulled her knees to her chest. She might as well just leave her beloved 'Wonderland' if no one cared for her presence, but she couldn't bear to leave without having Time answer for his crimes.
Glancing down at the dried and severed finger, Alice sighed and began to dig a hole with her bare hands beneath the tree. This was no place to bury the remains of a king, nor anyone for that matter, but it was far too morbid for her to carry Ilosovic's finger in her pocket as Mirana suggested. She gently placed the ring finger into the shallow hole and brushed the small pile of dirt over the grave and went to rub at her teary eyes only to find someone dabbing a handkerchief at the corners of her eyes first. Sitting back, Alice smiled sadly at the vision of Chess in full view.
"I'm terribly sorry for your loss, Alice," Chessur said while shifting his slit eyes to the burial. "The Knave was far from my favorite person, but I heard of the battle in Mekhane. He prevented Tarrant from doing a most regrettable thing to you, and I applaud his noble finale."
Alice nodded sadly at the comments and felt the ring around her neck once more.
"Do you know how it happened? What became of him in his final moments?" Alice asked unsure if she wanted to know, but the cat shook his head.
"I only know that his life ended before they brought his body to Marmoreal. I assume that Mirana had made use of his body in a number of ways. Death isn't often present in these parts, so the queen has to scavenge for ingredients she desires normally," the cat said as he hovered only a few inches from the forest floor. "I assume that it was a mildly quick and hopefully painless end." Alice gave a shake of her head.
"Mirana said that he has suffered a great deal, but I suppose that she is known for her lies," Alice muttered. She glanced around the forest, expecting white knights to fall upon them at a moment's notice but for the time being, all was still. "I'm surprised that you remember me, more so that you are willing to offer such kindness. Bayard might have bitten me if I gave him the chance."
"I've always preferred the side of no side, though I must say that the days have grown rather dull since you have left us again," Chess admitted as he folded his paws beneath his chin. "I would venture to say that most of our fine friends have been forced to forget about you. I'm sure it's reversible with the right ingredients, or better still the right hands."
"Do I have any friends left other than you?" Alice asked without optimism but the cat nodded with a grin.
"Just give me a moment to find the right mushroom," Chess said before evaporating before her eyes.
Alone again, Alice got to her feet and tried to commit the tree to memory. Maybe when this nonsense was over she could come back for Ilosovics' remaining remains and give him a more proper burial, but it all looked the same to her. Alice supposed she would have to make the spot distinguishable herself and began to collect rocks and pebbles into her hand until it was full. Laying the small stones over the disturbed earth, Alice wondered how Stayne would have preferred his remains to be cared for. She doubted he would want them set to sea, but maybe he wanted to be cremated, or a grandiose funeral for all of the Outlands to attend.
Alice wasn't able to ponder the ritual for long. Chessur returned to her with mushroom in paw and held the fungus up to his ear, confusing Alice terribly. Before she could question what he was doing a white tuft of fur began to grow on the side of the cat's head. It took only a few seconds for Alice to realize that the growth was not a what, but a who.
Nivens took the smallest of nibbles as he was set down to the ground, having outgrown his friend's head. When the White rabbit felt more or less the proper size he shook his body off and looked to Alice with his ears pressed back.
"Hello, Alice," Nivens said softly before the woman gathered the rabbit into his arms, surprising him. "Oh please let go! I'm not at all decent! I haven't a stitch of clothing on me Alice!"
"Sorry Nivens, it's just so good to see you and to know I still have some friends," Alice said as she blushed from embarrassment and quickly set the rabbit down. "Why were you hiding on Chess's head?"
"Because he was the one that got you out of Under before Time could harm you," Chess responded and the rabbit nodded in agreement.
"According to many, I am indeed a traitor of The Crown," Nivens said with guilt. "Thankfully, Chessur was kind enough to offer me refuge. I'm not sure if Mirana would give me that concoction she had created or cut off my feet but I'll tell you I wasn't willing to find out, so I drank what pishsalver I had left after we dragged you up to your world."
Alice frowned and shook her head, not recalling Nivens presence on the battlefield but the rabbit was ready to fill in the gaps.
"Grail had carried you off from Mekhana and brought you to me. He also managed to lead Winthrope and Time off my trail, so I owe him a great deal, but we aren't sure what has become of our mangy friend, nor most of those that reside in the Outlands." Alice nodded and looked down the beaten path.
"Well I intend to find out, if anyone knows anything about what has happened in the past, I suspect Time will have the answers we are seeking," Alice said looking between the pair before her. "I can't ask anything more from either of you, but I would appreciate your company before I find confront Time."
"We would be honored to join you, Alice," Chessur said and Nivens agreed.
"Quite true, I'm terribly tired of having to hide in Chess's mess of fur," Nivens said as he hopped behind Alice, and the trio wandered along the path in search of Time's keep.
"It feels as though we have been walking in circles," Alice griped and came to a stop to observe their surroundings. Nivens put his nose to the air in hopes of being able to whiff something but Chessur only waited for one of the two to call the next path to take as he hadn't a clue where Time would hide and did not want the responsibility of leading anyone astray.
"Oh that's wonderful," Nivens said with a heavenly sigh. "Thack is serving fresh blunderberry pie, and I do believe I smell fishy crumpets as well. Oh what I would give for some carrot cake but Chess never offers a crumb to me when he attends their tea parties!" Nivens scolded, making the cat roll his entire body in the air.
Alice's gaze shifted down to Nivens in surprise before looking up to find the post in the road that offered directions. Mad Hatter's place was to the right, and the March Hare was on the left of the fork while continuing on straight would have taken them towards the abandoned Castle of Crims. Alice turned left making both her companions panic.
"Alice, it isn't safe for you to go walking about in any direction you please!" Nivens shouted as he clung to Alice's coat and dug his feet into the ground in hopes of at least slowing the woman, but Alice carried on unhindered by the resistance made by the rodent. Chessur gravitated in front of Alice's face in hopes he would listen to his reasoning.
"Alice, Tarrant has been more of himself since you've been away, should he happen to be with Thackery your visit here, among other things, may be cut short," Chess said as Alice brushed him off as the March Hare's cottage came into view. It was a chaotic mess as vines and bushes sought to grow over the home's structure, but Alice could not see the lunatic living anywhere else. In front of the house a series of tables were laid out, enough to seat a village, but she could tell that there were at least three occupants at the table.
And Tarrant was one of them.
Determined as ever, Alice trudged down towards the small clearing as her two companions desperately urged her to turn around.
The mad trio below were unaware of the uninvited guests as they sang happily, wishing each other very merry un-birthdays. As Tarrant lifted his teacup for the umpteenth time his cheerful grin was wiped clean as he witnessed Alice approach.
"The Black Queen!" Tarrant roared, throwing his cup down and searched for an appropriate weapon to take down the woman, but all that laid before him was dishes, blunt cutlery, and sweets. Making do with what he had he began to fling all those things Alice's way but Alice dodged all of the objects as Chess advanced to Tarrant's side in hopes of calming him down.
Nivens released Alice's coat as Mallymkun made herself known and chased after him with her infamous glass-headed pin which she treated as a sword.
With both her companions occupied, all that Alice was left with was Thackery who was charging at with open arms screaming wildly as he did so. Alice wasn't sure how to defend herself without harming the old hare, but all went still when Thackery wrapped his arms wrapped around her and he nestled his head resting comfortably against her torso, his screams now turned into soft laughter.
"Alice! I missed ye'," the March Hare declared confusing everyone there, Alice included, but she smiled brightly at the hare hugging her tightly.
"I missed you as well Thackery," Alice said with a laugh in her own voice as she rested a hand on top of the hare's head and brushed his ears back. It was clear to Alice in this moment that Mirana had underestimated the March Hare's mind. He was certainly mad, but he still remembered her. Whatever The White Queen had fed to her friends, Thackery had been spared.
Tarrant tried to shove Chess away but the cat evaporated and reappeared closer to Alice and Thackery to closer observe the situation. Nivens and Mally were tangled together, but their attentions were also on the pair hugging. Tarrant stepped out from behind the table and waved over to Thackery to get him to move.
"Thack, get away from that witch! She will smite ye given the first opportunity!" Tarrant bellowed gaining the eyes of everyone, Thackery included who glared back at The Hatter.
"Alice is friend! Very good friend!" Thackery shouted before releasing Alice and hoped back to the table, his paws knocking everything around as he searched for an unused cup. Finding the cleanest teacup on the table, Thackery poured out a cup of tea and hurried back to Alice, the hot liquid spilling out as he ran, leaving only half a sip left in the cup that he offered to her. "Friends get tea!"
Honored by the gesture, Alice accepted the teacup and took the sip in delight. It was a sweet berry tea that required no sugar though the few drops left her with wanting more, but she was given much more than she expected.
"Thank you, Thackery. That was delicious," Alice commented to which the hare nodded in response and returned to his seat at the table as though nothing had happened, leaving the rest of the party to deal with an awkward silence. It was Chessur who broke the silence, a necessary obligation being the most neutral among them.
"We do not wish to disturb you, Tarrant. We were just on our way to find Time," the cat insisted, making the mad man narrow his gaze.
"And what do ye intend to do with Time? I ought to string you up by yer tail, ye no gud puss!" Tarrant grumbled approaching Alice and Chessur. "Consorting with the Black, hav' ye no loyalty to The Crown?"
Chessur's ears went flat against his head as he searched for the words necessary to explain the situation but Alice moved forward to meet Tarrant's rage with her own.
"I just want to know what everyone can't remember," Alice started. It was partially true, but for the time being any admittance of wanting to end Time's reign over the realm might set off Tarrant. "Isn't there anything you can tell us where we can find him? Maybe Time can help you find something you have forgotten," Alice suggested. Tarrant's orange eyes dulled to a yellow at the question, seeming to actually contemplate the questions brought on by The Black Queen. There were a few missing spots in his mind that he would like to fill.
"I- I suppose I would like to recall the day I slew the Jabberwocky," Tarrant uttered as a hand went into his thick and untamable hair. "The White Queen says it was the greatest day she had ever known and it is rather embarrassing that I cannot share the memory with her."
Alice held her breath as Tarrant considered the plan to see Time. Maybe he could mend the rift that had grown between them. He was still a threat to her, but at the end of it all Tarrant was also a victim to Mirana's manipulation, wasn't he?
"Come with us then," Alice offered. "We could use the company, and I'm sure Nivens would very much appreciate it if you could spin up a vest before we go." At the prospect of a commissioned piece, the skilled tailor's eyes lit up to the lovely green that Alice had adored.
"Oh, yes, it has been ages since I could make something for the members of The White Queen's court! Exiled or not, I do enjoy making things for those who can show off," Tarrant stated as he looked over to Nivens and Mally who were separated and both dusting themselves off. "Should The White Queen decide to banish you I hope you will wear what I make on your journey! It would be nice to have a traveling reputation you know," Tarrant said as he made his way towards Thackery's cottage with the Dormouse right on his heel. While the hare had no spare materials for the craft Tarrant would make do with curtains, sheets, or whatever cloth he could find.
The trio was silent as they watched Tarrant walk away, in complete disbelief that Tarrant hadn't tried to butcher them with a cake server.
"Well, that went exceedingly better than I expected," Nivens said as he moved closer to Alice and Chessur, eyeing Mally as she scurried into the house in case she should decide that she wasn't finished poking him to death. Both Alice and Chess nodded in response and the rabbit gave a heavy sigh. "Now if only we knew how to find Time."
"HeheHehE- I took the queen to see Time," Thackery said as he poured a mountain of sugar into a teacup. "Made me swear not to go in, so I didn'!" Alice, Chess and Nivens all stared at the back of the March Hare in shock before they crowded around him, setting the hare on edge but he continued to make a mess at the table.
"Thackery," Chessur purred gently. "Where is Time?"
"I don't know," Thackery responded as he threw a fork over his shoulder and Niven's shook his head.
"This is hopeless," muttered the White Rabbit. Alice furrowed her brow at the situation. He had taken Mirana to see Time so there was a place that they should be able to visit as well. It was a start, but they needed more. What they needed was a guide.
"Thackery," Alice started softly, as Thackery slapped at a custard pie with the back of a spoon, the sweet gel splattering onto Nivens who removed himself from the table to clean his face. "Could you take us to where Time was?" Alice asked as Thackery continued to slap the pie but he nodded quickly.
"Yep. But I made a swear- Don't follow the queen!" Thackery shouted before he handed the spoon to Nivens and Alice smiled. Time was nearly within her grasp.
