Hello! Hope these months have been kind to you since last we met! I apologize for my absence... there really is no explanation Dx

Anyway, the next "real" chapter is in the works (again, so sorry for the delay). I thought I'd give you a little interlude to let y'all know I'm still alive :)

Enjoy...?

"You will venture over the rift and across the seven seas," she bit through the wind to the trembling crew before her. "You will not return until you have captured her. Do you understand?" But she didn't wait for a reply. "I want her alive. Do not harm the crew. Do not seek riches. Capture her. Bring her to me." She looked at every one of them. "Do this and I will grant you eternal life throughout all seas."

They obeyed, pushing toward their ships at the dock.

A tall figure dressed in black with a ridiculously tall hat and wide pointy shoulders knocked the end of his staff on the door. He stepped through when it opened. "You, uh, wanted to see me?"

The woman sitting perfectly poised behind a desk smiled warmly and beckoned him in. "Ah, yes. Do have a seat."

He took the offered seat, wondering just why he had been summoned from the Castle of Eternity to her kingdom. He feared her sister had not done anything dreadful. Alice was away from Underland - he shouldn't have to worry about Iracebeth. He clasped his hands. "Well, then... what- what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected call?"

"Do not appear so alarmed," she laughed lightly. She poured herself a cuppa. Then she pointed the teapot at him and asked, "Would you care for some?"

"No, thank you," he replied with a chuckle. "I've had my fill of tea. Perhaps Hatter can tell you."

"Alas, I am not as great of company as Tarrant," she mused. Her smile dimmed for a moment before it brightened again and her poised aura returned. "How have you been? How are things up in the castle?"

He locked her gaze for a split second then he looked away.

"Since the whole matter with Alice and the chronosphere, I have meant to look in on you every so often," she revealed. "See how you and the Grand Clock are faring." Her smile remained comforting and open. "I hope you haven't had any more troubles with the Underlandians? Apart from my sister, that is."

"No, I haven't," he answered. He sat straighter, and he couldn't look at her. "Um, to answer your question, Your Majesty, I am fine. The Grand Clock is fine. There is peace for once in Underland."

Her smile turned cold. "I am a fair queen, Time. I am not like my sister. You already know this. But I do not take to liars."

His winced and he briefly met her eyes. "Of course, Your Highness. Forgive me."

"I'll determine in the coming hours if you are to be forgiven," she declared.

"Madam?" he questioned.

"The great beholder of time itself has taken the people of Underland for fools," she began. "It is not you and you alone that can sense when something is wrong with the lines of time. The ground trembles without warning. The bell-tower of this kingdom has split. Time is cracking and if you continue to sit here and claim to me that nothing is wrong, that everything is fine, you are condemning Underland and all of its people to death."

He winced.

"My great-grandfather was the one who appointed you," she continued. "If you cannot give me the truth and your will do everything in your power to keep Underland together, I will replace you."

Time's blue eyes met her icy browns. He gave a vague nod.

"Show me," she commanded.

He reluctantly revealed the face of the Grand Clock beneath his cloak. He heard her slight intake of breath. "I do not know what is going on. I have never seen this before... but as the days go on, I can feel the Grand Clock grow colder and colder. I can feel it yearn to snap. And then it does. When I least expect it."

She studied the two prominent cracks on the face. "I too do not know what this is and how to stop it. But I have employed the best to find a possible solution."

He looked to her for answers.

But she shook her head. "Dear Time, you will not like it."

Hatter sat quietly in the room, twiddling his thumbs.

Time looked up at his lack of speech. "Do you know what Princess Mirana is bringing?" He watched the oddly quiet madman shake his head in silent reply. Time gave a small nod. "Whatever it is, she said I would not like it."

"The Tweedles know. I could go ask them," he offered.

He shook his head. "No. Best to wait." He winced as the Grand Clock ticked awkwardly again.

*reuploaded because I saw the entire thing was in italics!