Things start to look up for Alice...
-XXX-
The day came when she thought that maybe, just maybe, she could do it. She was practicing portals with Mally one dreary afternoon when the flower they were sending to and fro (across the room and back) was suddenly...gone. They searched everywhere. It was...gone. They shrugged, then selected another flower.
At dinner, Alice had a niggling wish to attempt to summon the missing flower back. After a mouthful of wine, eyes closed, she pulled at the thread of power that welled in the center of her belly. She pulled and pulled and pulled until it materialized in her hand.
It came back to her, as fresh as it had been when she made it disappear. Not the least bit wilted. Alice lifted it to her nose, feeling quite weary. So weary that she fainted.
She woke to the sound of high-pitched voices over her and fanning. Several servants have carried her to a couch in the parlor adjacent to the informal dining room, and now several of the ladies are clustered above her.
"Whatever is the matter, Lady Alice?" one rushes to ask. "You simply toppled over!"
She struggled to sit up, the plush cushions making it a struggle. "I don't know, I found myself very tired -"
"Are you ill?" another squawked.
"No," she replied, annoyed. "I am merely tired. I had a very busy day."
"Oh, but someone should fetch the physician."
So a doctor was called. Alice was returned to her rooms, where she awaited the physician. When he arrived she explained her abrupt weariness. He listened, took notes, and advised she temper her use of magic.
As Alice lay back in bed thinking of the incident, she look to her left, to the bedside table. The flower she'd been clutching when she'd fainted had managed the journey from the dining room, parlor, to her bedroom, where it now sat in a shallow cup of water.
The cheery daffodil was so bright it seemed to give light to her darkened room. Translucent petals had a silken sheen. Alice strokes them, contemplating.
"What would make me that weary?" she asked aloud. The flower did not answer.
-XXX-
The answer came only a few days later. She had sent the flower so far away, and that to bring it back she became utterly drained. To send it to the cottage – which she had done once or twice – didn't give her a tinge. Distance could, according to her studies, spend a lot of one's energy. And, if her stamina were any evidence, Alice had sent the flower halfway around the globe.
She had been thinking of home for a moment – just a moment. Perhaps –
This though gave her a new energy. She studied and practiced with all of her heart. She refused food and sleep somedays, forgot to brush her teeth or hair.
Everyone noticed. Mally took to visiting and taking her out of doors. Hatter brought trays, dragged her from the library when necessary, distracting her with riddles. Mirana came by occasionally to supply her with fresh parchment and candles. It was easy to see where her priorities were.
No one seemed to understand what, precisely, she was doing. Alice was frantic. It was the first time she had a break through. She had to ride it through until she'd found what she was looking for.
Hatter did not like to think on the subject. But he knew it was something terribly important to his Alice. He resigned himself to aiding her, despite his dislike of her work. Her happiness was worth more than his sorrow.
Weeks pass. Alice is going mad, but not nearly as so early in her arrival at Mirana's court. Her eyes possessed dark circles, but she was at least sleeping occasionally. Progress is slow – she wishes to know all that she can of portal-making and magical energy before she attempts to move anything again. Sadly, there are few books on the subject of magical energy, and those that she has access to are frustratingly vague. Portals are a little more common, but those are primarily relating to short-term small-distance portals. The information is barely helpful, but it is something. Better than nothing, which is what she had months ago.
She finally gives it a go with an obliging bluebird. The bird was told what to expect, then waited calmly at the window ledge for her to make the portal. When she did, the little fellow disappeared with a bright whistle.
Within twenty minutes she pulled him back. Mally watched with worried black eyes from the arm of the chair. The bird landed safely right where it had disappeared, fluttering excitedly. He began chipping its news the moment his talons touched stone sill.
"Tiny silver and black boxes that make color! Trees with no branches but leaves that are round and bright light to streets! Great bright beasts that move on round feet, wheels of black."
Alice smiled.
-XXX-
Of course she still did not know how to get herself home, merely things and other beings. But it was a big step. She sent the bird again to determine how long she'd been gone. He brought back the corner of a newspaper, dated only a few weeks from her disappearance. She calculated the time. Nearly a year and a half in Underland was only three weeks in her time. That was hardly any time at all. Still, her parents must be frantic. Alice contemplated sending them a note by way of bluebird, but decided against it. It might be presenting them with a false hope.
She told no one of her discovery save for Mally. Mirana was especially kept in the dark, with Alice making Mally and the bluebird swear blood oaths to keep it secret. She doesn't know what the White Queen might do with such power. Presumably nothing, but Alice was taking no chances.
While she longed to tell Hatter, that too was out of the question. Alice trusted him, but she didn't want to put him nor anyone else at any additional risk. Still, keeping quiet was hard. She shared nearly everything with him – except that which she hid.
Her frantic research did no slow upon her advancement. But she attempted to spend more time with those she appreciated. She read to Mally and the others in the evenings. She danced at the occasional court function. When Hatter begged that she join him in the woods for a teatime picnic she came.
She absorbed the sunlight, her hands resting within his. The day sang of spring. Butterflies of all colors drift around them. One dark blue insect landed on her knee. She left it, lazily turning her face up to the sky. If there is one thing she misses about home, it is definitely sunglasses.
"Alice," Hatter said suddenly. "When might your return to the cottage with me?"
Surprised, she glanced up. "I hadn't thought about that. I don't know if Mirana has any intention of ever letting me go. She doesn't trust me now. And my knowledge is too valuable."
He appeared discontent with this answer. "What might I do to convince her?"
"I don't know she can be convinced," she replied slowly.
But Tarrent was determined. "I would send her reports myself. Have her birds stationed to watch us. Whatever may be required."
Alice's heart swelled. Hatter's devotion was confusing, but touching nonetheless. There was a pause, then she leaned forward, scooping up the froth of her dress. She pressed a kiss to his starkly white cheek. It felt like a feather stroking his skin ever-so-lightly.
He reacted quickly, turning to cup her face in gloved hands. He claimed her lips with his own, inhaling deeply. Alice smiled into his kiss, replying with tilt of her head, sliding hands up to his shoulders. In a matter of minutes, he shifts to press her into the grass, sweeping off his hat, then stretching to match her length, want to fit their bodies together just ever so.
-XXX-
A few days later found her alone in the very same gardens just after twilight. She had been studying all day. Alice's hands were stained with ink and felt stiff after hours and hours of note-taking. She still needed to figure out how to transport herself. Other objects and creatures are no trouble, but her own self? It was yet another riddle. And so far, there had been no breakthrough.
The frustration is palatable. But, thankfully, not as bad as the frustration she'd experienced earlier in the process.
Solitary trips to the garden were good. They cleared her mind. It was as though the clean night air gently swept away her stress – though, sadly, this effect didn't last longer than a few hours.
She rounded a corner, coming upon an alcove hidden by vines with a bench in one corner. Lost in thought, she was examining a group of flower when a voice interrupted her.
"Oh, you'll never figured out like that. You'll just get some frustrating wrinkles."
Startled, Alice turned around. No one.
"No, silly girl, here."
She scanned the alcove, pausing on a bright blue butterfly.
"There," the butterfly drawled, satisfied. "Took you long enough." His words were said in a deep baritone, all pronounced slowly.
"Oh," Alice said, a little relieved that it was only a butterfly. "Hello. I am terribly sorry for missing you."
"Not as sorry as I," he replied. "Sit, please."
She did, smoothing invisible wrinkles on her tunic as she did. "I'm Alice," the young woman offered.
"I know,"said the butterfly. "You are absolutely Alice."
"Who are you?"
"Of course you do not remember." There was a hint of a sneer. Irritation rose in Alice, but she bit her lip to prevent from expressing that irritation. "I am Absolem."
The name held weight. Even Alice felt that.
"Absolem," she said slowly, trying it out. "Lovely to meet you."
"Lies are rarely becoming, but I shall let it pass. I believe you are in need of some inspiration, Alice."
"Yes. I rather could."
The butterfly smiled. "Good."
"Why are you helping me?" she asked after he'd said his piece. Her pocket-size notebook was still out, hurried handwriting drying. "No one else here wants to help me. Even the people that like me."
His dark wings flutter impatiently. "Because you still have much to do, Alice. And you need to be home."
Emotion hit her suddenly. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes, and she was forced to blink them back. "That's so kind."
"No," he answered simply. "It is necessary."
-XXX-
Apologies again for the delay. School year is close to an end, so I've been swamped. Please review!
