A shorter chapter with small scenes, but it's appropriate for the mood, I believe. Thank you so much for the reviews!

Enjoy!

-XXX-

Mirana did not know what to do with either of them. They were eventually dismissed without any further kind of instruction. Alice steered them towards the stables without a word. Hatter trailed behind her, fumbling for words, hands twisting. When they reach their mares, Alice pauses to stroke Blackfire's nose. In response the horse snorts, but allows the small affection regally.

"You're disappointed," Alice observers without looking at him. "Disappointed in me."

"Nae!" His outburst is surprising to both of them. "Aam nae disappointed. aam stunned. Wa didne ye teel me, Alice?"

She glanced up at him before her eyes flashed back downwards again, speaking swiftly. "I didn't know what I was doing. I just knew I wished to try...to try get my own magic. No one was helping me, so I decided to help myself."

"Ah thooght Ah was tryin'."

"Of course you've helped!" She whips 'round to face him, grasping the Hatter's hands tightly. "You've been positively wonderful. But you know I need to go home. And if no one can send me there, then I have to try for myself. Can't you see that I need to try? Besides, I thought..." Alice drifted off, looking down at their combined hands. "I thought maybe if I could manage it I could help the rest of Underland."

Hatter is utterly floored. "You were?"

"I confess, I had my own desires primarily in mind."

He shook his head. "It matters not. You've impressed me, lass. I was pleased to see that you were content to settled here, but I'd no idea you were doing this. And then to try to save us, as well. Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was afraid you would be disappointed in me. You were so pleased to have me stay with you."

"I thought you were happy to stay."

"Oh, Hatter," Alice said miserably. "I was – I am – terribly happy to be with you. But I do miss my mother and father, my school. I had a life above here, you know. Staying here forever just makes me feel awful. I shouldn't mind coming back often, but to live here..."

Tarrant understood. He hated it, but he understood.

-XXX-

They were told to remain at the White Palace until Mirana sought them again. She had them housed in connect apartments, a series of rooms with separate bedrooms, though they were still close. Both were less-than-pleased with the arrangement. Since Alice had been discovered, things had been awkward between them. She was striving to keep things normal through conversation. However, Tarrant was actively working against her in this. Keeping his distance, he only spoken when spoken too, and would sit uneasily with her at meals or in the sitting room of their apartments.

He was miserable and Alice hated herself for it. She wanted nothing more than for things to be right between them. But nothing was to be done. Every time she tried to apologize the words caught in her throat.

Mirana finally summoned them, nearly five days since they were first called to the White Palace. She sent a maid to ensure both appeared presentable. Alice loathed the dress she was strapped into. The silkiness of the fabric was not so terrible, but oh, how she hated the length and how tight it was against her chest. Hatter too looked uncomfortable as well, though he wore his own clothes, they were far cleaner and more polished than usual, with a freshly brushed hat and dust-free velvet jacket.

"You look quite nice," Alice complimented as they were escorted to the great hall once again.

"Thank you," Hatter replied quietly, staring straight ahead.

Alice swallowed, turning her own gaze to the polished ash double doors that loomed before them. They were opened by a pair of sallow-faced swan footmen. Mirana was already perched on her throne, black lips pursed in contemplation.

Once the formalities had been dispensed, the Hatter and Alice waited to hear the queen's verdict.

"Alice, after considering your circumstances, I have decided to let your transgression pass without punishment. You undoubtedly are having a difficult time transition. I've decided to overlook it."

"Thank you," Alice replied quietly.

"I'm not quite finished." Mirana cut her off coolly. "Regardless of your circumstances, you're got something I want. Something you should not have. And I still need your help in procuring it."

Alice's brown eyes flashed. "With all due respect, your highness, I didn't spend month teaching myself magic just so I could pass it off to you. You've had decades to learn this, and you've put forth minimal effort. I am not simply going to hand over this knowledge to you. I'm going home."

"That is where we are in disagreement." Mirana speaks delicately. "Because, you see, I have a notion that you still can't return home. If you were, we would not be having this conversation."

The young woman's jaw set. Sitting back with great satisfaction, Mirana smirked. Despite her slight shame, Alice refused to look away, staring straight up at the queen without flinching.

"No," Alice said. "No, I have not yet figured out how to send myself home."

Pleased, Mirana pressed her fingers together.

Hatter finally spoke. He'd grown grey as the conversation had progressed. Neither Alice nor Mirana had been paying him any mind, both too focused in their own battle of wills.

"What does this mean?"

No one spoke for sometime. Finally, Mirana said, "It means that Alice will be with us for longer than she anticipated."

-XXX-

For the following four months, Alice was required remain at the White Palace with Mirana, tutoring the queen and her magicians in what she had learned, while also training herself to stay ahead. Only a day after the revelation that she'd been attempting to find a way home Hatter had left. He went back to the cottage early in the morning without saying goodbye to anyone besides the stable boy. He took Sary and left no note.

Alice wrote to him immediately. She apologized, listing out her reasons and regrets. Her letter went unanswered.

She did not write again, not for lack of wanting but because Mirana kept her so busy.

-XXX-

Having already been unhappy with her lot, living at the White Palace only served to highlight Alice's misery. It made her reflect on her time with Hatter is a rosier light. She'd been content in the Hatter's cottage. Their quiet life was just what she had needed. At the White Palace something was always going on – visiting diplomats, lessons, studying court functions. Even on the least busy days Alice returned to her room exhausted. Mirana seemed to want to extract the humiliation Alice had caused her. There was rarely a moment of peace – and should once occur, Mirana was quick to swoop in and find something to occupy her charge's time.

The worst of it were the lessons. Mirana lorded over all of them, despite the fact that Alice was the one issuing instruction. It was infuriating. She frequently corrected Alice, interrupting with various comments and critiques.

"I'm the one who develop this," Alice exploded one day after a particularly snide comment. "I know how to summon the magic, I figured out how to do this! You sat idly by for years when I figured this out in a matter of months you vain, silly woman – you will shut up and listen to me."

Surprisingly, that did in fact shut her up – though not happily.

In her spare time, Alice sought to find a way home. But that time did not appear frequently enough, and she found research painfully slowed. Eventually, she had to force herself to stay up, giving herself late nights of reading and writing. After several weeks of this her own reflection gave her shudders. Dark circles beneath red-rimmed eyes all surrounded by lank hair made her look all the the exhaustion she felt.

"You look ghastly," Mirana offered one afternoon during a garden tea. "Half-dead, really, my dear. Are you feeling quite well?"

The ladies that surrounded her twittered. Alice didn't have the heart nor the energy to respond. She sipped her tea, glowering, but made no reply.

-XXX-

Maly was the only soul who gave Alice an ounce of kindness, expect perhaps Blackfire (though Alice wasn't sure if the horse's mere tolerance of her presence counted as "kindness"). She quickly took note of Alice's pathetic state. She arranged for tea to be delivered, insisted the girl sleep, and encouraged rides and fresh air. Alice was wary at first - the mouse had made it clear early in her arrival that she was not particularly fond of this not-right-Alice. But Maly's intentions were true and she remained persistent. Eventually, Alice let her take care of her from time to time.

"Mirana won't like it," Alice said when the mouse tried to lead her out to the forest beyond the palace walls.

"Mirana won't have you for much longer if she keeps working you like this," Maly replied. "You look like a right nightmare."

She sighed, but allowed herself to be directed to a small clearing. The sun felt warm on her skin. She breathed deeply as she curled into the sweet summer grass. Nearly a year in Underland, and she'd never felt so relaxed. The mouse settled on an oak leaf nearby.

"This was a fine idea," Alice murmured after a while. "Thank you."

"Mmmm," was all the mouse said as they both sank into a doze.

-XXX-

Autumn came, and with it Hatter. Mirana summoned him to fit her and her ladies for winter hats. His arrival was much anticipated, with all the women pouring over pages of styles, discussing various sorts of satins and silks, made lists of faux fruits and flowers to request. Alice was, unfortunately, required to meet him upon his return to court. She suspected Mirana might decide to torture them both a bit by seating next to one another at dinner.

Tarrent, in his turn, was less-than-pleased as well. His neuroses had returned in full force. For nearly a week before his journey, in between packing (which was an endeavor indeed, he had to bring everything for Mirana court) he practiced maintaining a green-eyed mood. It took a lot of practice.

He was not ready to see Alice. Every thought of her quickly sent a pulse of orange in his eyes. He had to school himself with deep breaths for several minutes before his eye will turn a passable shade of springy green – usually rimmed with orange, but primarily green.

Instead of riding up to the front gates, Tarrent elected to ride directly into the stables, then supervise the transport of his supplies to the workroom. Standing with the serene Sary, the Hatter watched as grooms and servants carried crates, bags and boxes up the winding staircase. He had not missed the White Palace, and he was far from pleased to be back again. Mirana isn't particular happy with him. Her correspondence has been terse at best, cold at worst. She knew he was unaware of Alice's activities but that did not completely excuse him in her eyes.

But that was nothing in comparison to his apprehension at seeing Alice.

She had written once. He read and re-read the letter for the better part of a week, deliberate over whether he ought to reply. Hatter believed her to be sincere. However, sincerity did not excuse her. He didn't write back.

Hatter sighed as he stroked Sary's nose. It would be a long week.

As though the thought summoned her, Alice suddenly appeared on the staircase, moving past the burdened grooms with a small smile. She abruptly halted upon seeing him.

His hand's froze on Sary's velvet muzzle. Her surprise transformed into a wry expression. Hands on her hips – unladylike, but completely Alice – she moved from the threshold to meet him.

"I thought I might avoid you here. I didn't think you'd sneak in through the back."

He swallowed. "I did not want to make a scene with my arrival."

"I can see that." Alice tilted her head. "Hello."

"Alice." Hatter avoided her eyes. He could practically feel the orange creeping up in his irises.

There was a pause. Alice clasped her hands together, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

"Well, I... was about to go for a ride. I suppose I will see you later."

"Indeed," he replied softly.

Alice lingered another moment, attempting to catch his gaze. But he was determined. She let her eye slid away, embarrassed, then slipped away to find Blackfire.

-XXX-

Little depressing, eh? But never fear, we've still got story to go yet!

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