I am very sorry for the delay. It was a very busy end of semester - lots of projects, a wedding, graduation, etc. We are in the home stretch! One-ish more chapters!

-XXX-

It was less than a week later when she was certain she had it. Alice could, at any time, potentially go home. Absolem had shared a way she could channel and save power so that attempting to transport herself would not kill her. It involved choosing a magical object in which she could store excess. She did not drain herself every day, so before bed she could store the energy she had left. Alice happily did, and looked forward to when she could store excess power.

No one knew, not even Maly. There were few that she trusted, but even to those she had to keep quiet. It pained her to not be able to tell her friends, but it was worth keeping them – and herself – safe.

Yet Alice knew the day was fast approaching when all would be laid on the table. Her poker face is slipping, anger and frustration becoming more and more apparent each and every day she was forced into court. A confrontation was coming and coming soon.

Her friends seemed to sense this. Maly worriedly chewed her lips, listened closely. Hatter would quietly beg her to not be angry when they were in court functions. She ignored them. She has something that she must do. They did not understand.

"I cannot understand what is not enough," Hatter said sadly. She often lifted a hand to smooth that wildly kinky red mop and says nothing.

She must tell, soon, that she is going. It it not fair to anyone – not even Mirana. Mirana wants the magic for selfish reasons, to be sure, however, she also needs it for Underland to continue to survive. Alice has no qualms with helping this land she has grown to love. Even if it gives Mirana something Alice does not necessarily want her to have.

But even the best-laid plans are not always seen through. Alice found herself summoned early one morning and was surprised (not to mention a little horrified) to see a stack of her journals and research notes sitting just to the left of Mirana's throne. Alice was even less happy to see Hatter among the courtiers. His eyes were a downcast orange. As for the queen, she appeared a hearty combination of pleasure and rage. A tempestuous storm was brewing in her dark eyes.

Alice was terribly tempted to back away, turn around an run, to flee. It was not to be. She surged forward, steeling herself.

"My sweet Alice," Mirana purred. "We have made quite the discovery, haven't we."

Alice fell into the expected curtsey, saying nothing.

"You'll be surprised to know that my maid, dear Claudiana, was cleaning out your study and came across the most curious notes."

"You mean you sent her to snoop." Now rising, Alice crossed her arms, brows rising. "Let's have no illusions, your highness. Your maid didn't just wander into my rooms to tidy up."

Mirana's jaw visibly tightened. "You do not deny trying to hide this research?"

"I was hiding it. I won't deny it."

"When were you planning on informing me of this breakthrough?"

Alice knew she was on trial. She would not be fearful, except – she looked to Hatter in the crowd.

"I wasn't," she said softly, her gaze still upon him. "I wasn't going to tell you."

Mirana's hands tightened into fists against the arms of her throne. Standing among the courtiers, Hatter was terribly tempted to turn away but he kept his eyes locked onto Alice. She appeared stoic, save for the smallest tremor of her upper lip. He wanted to kiss that away – he want to take her away, far from the White Queen. Then maybe, just maybe, she'd be content to stay here. With him.

It was not that simple. Not from any angle.

"What did you say?" Mirana asked with a deadly quietness in her voice.

Turning back to the queen, Alice lifted her chin defiantly. "I wasn't going to tell you. I was going to go home, leave my journals, and never return."

Hatter's heart clenched. It felt like an invisible hand had grabbed it and was squeezing – hard. Her final words make him feel like the organ was bursting.

-XXX-

In the end, there was not much Mirana could do. Alice had the knowledge, and while Mirana had her notes and journals, the theories within them were not to be understood with her. The White Queen was not so cruel as to extract the information through any violent means therefore she (grudgingly) agreed to let Alice go home, so long as she provided a clearer translation of her work. The young woman was all too happy to agree.

Hatter was more willing to listen to her this time. Alice gently explained that she was, at some point, planning on informing him of her impending departure. He warily believed her. But he was far from happy.

"I will be back," she said over and over in a desperate attempt to comfort him. But even she knew it was a weak offering. "I want to come back. I cannot imagine my life without you, Tarrent."

"Then why go?"

She sighed, as she did every time the question was posed. "I don't belong here."

He very much disagrees. But there is, as Maly and Mirana had grudgingly pointed out, no stopping her.

She was more powerful than anyone had anticipated. Her desperation made her magic dangerously focused. Alice could, if not destroy them, at least leave the Underland a little wrecked just by leaving – Mirana's magic was no longer enough. They had tasted Alice's, and the comparison was overwhelming. She could rebuild all of it, bring Underland to a glory it had not seen since the last Alice walk the realm. Or she could leave. Leave, and let it all fall again.

But she was a kind girl. She left Mirana and the mages with enough instruction so as to ensure the land's survival.

The huddled around her every afternoon in the library, eager to listen to her lectures on proper magical land management, how to infuse the realm with the proper amounts of power, and when to let it rest.

"You just need to follow every step." Her fingers traced the letters on the parchment paper of her notebook. "It's all here. Everything. No more and no less."

The mages read slowly, absorbing her neatly scribed notes, occasionally interrupting her to ask a question or seek clarification. They were learning quickly, thank goodness, and could pick up concepts in only a few lessons. Mirana was less attentive to Alice's instruction. This left the young woman to think it was really no wonder Underland had fallen into such a state – their queen could hardly bring herself to appear interested in expanding her knowledge of magic.

"It's not static," Alice insisted on one of her final lessons. "Magic changes, it evolves. You can't think that a few lessons a couple hundred years ago will maintain all of this – you must keep learning, keep figuring out how it functions."

Mirana merely curled her black lips. "I am well-aware."

Alice feared for Underland. The power she'd reintroduced would help the realm a great deal – but only if Mirana and the mages could harness it and respect the magic. She told herself it soon would not be her problem, yet the fear niggled at her nonetheless.

-XXX-

The day came when she had finished her instruction. They knew all that was needed. She was going for good. For once and for all.

Not wanting much pomp, Alice elected to make her exit in her favorite part of the White Palace: the gardens. It would be a lonely departure. Though she did not wish to pain him further, she asked Tarrent to accompany her.

Smoothing her tunic, Alice waited for Hatter to meet her at the arched entryway. He was late (which was not the least bit surprising). This was mildly annoying, as she had been ready to say to goodbye. Entirely emotionally prepared. His tardiness was giving her too much time – and to much time to feel her apprehension.

All of her fear, all of her want to stay, bubbled up. "You need to leave," she reminded herself. "This isn't home."

"But it could be," a small voice reminded her. It sounded like Tarrent. "Our home."

Alice shook her head, frowning to herself. Hatter had made no such proposals. He was very fond of her, yes. Loved, perhaps, in a Hatter-ish sort of way. Yet this was not any good reason to stay.

He finally appeared, round the corner slowly. Alice straightened upon seeing him. "Hello."

"Hello." His smile was weak. She wanted to reach for his hands, but restrained herself. While moderately more understanding, he had been withdrawn since her appearance in court. Touch was no longer freely given.

Silent, they walked to the center of the gardens. Spring peonies surrounded the stone arch. Alice inhaled their sweet scent as she drew in focus.

Hatter approached the archway, examining the stonework. Hand-carved, it was quite old. Older than him. Older than Mirana, or the previous monarchs. He could feel something heavy about it. It was no wonder that Alice had selected this spot. The old magic was infused in each block of stone. He pressed one gloved palm against the smooth grey-white stone. The touch tingled. A year ago he would have felt nearly nothing. Glancing back at Alice, he stood in awe of what she had already brought to the realm.

Kneeling along the path, she was stroking one flower pensively. He approached, lingering a few feet away. Waiting. Eventually she shook out of it. Looking up at Hatter, she smile widely. Her eyes were red-rimmed. "I was just saying good-bye."

Of course she was. Hatter offered a hand. Alice accepted, pulling herself up to stop only a couple of inches from his chest. Sniffing, she squeezed his hand, placing the combined limbs between the two of them to stare down.

"This doesn't make me happy," she blurted our abruptly. Hatter tilted his head. "I mean, I am entirely pleased to be going home, but I don't like leaving. Leaving you."

"And I don't like you leavin'." With his free hand Tarrent tilted her chin upwards. She was gripping him so hard he nearly squeaked.

"I will miss you." Alice leaned up to kiss his pale cheek. When she made to draw back he caught her lips. Alice responded with a sigh. Several moments of blissful kissing passed before they parted. Both quiet, they stood amid the flowers, unwilling to fully draw apart.

"I need to go."

"Yes," he agreed.

"I'll come back. Soon."

"S'long as it's not two hundred years this time."

This made her smile. "I won't let a single week pass."

She dropped his hands as she stepped back. Centering herself in the arch, Alice breathed deeply, finding focus. One hand went to her pocket to find her energy-focus – the place where she had stored all the extra power she needed. The tarnished thimble was slightly dented at the end, where she had dropped it off her desk. It was warm from resting against her skin.

Alice closed her eyes. She breathed again. Holding the thimble between her palms, she drew her hands up to her sternum. Her mind quieted. A tugging at her navel was promising.

"Home," she told herself.

"Home," the flowers called back.

"Home," sang the birds in the hedge.

"Home," whispered the soft voices of the arch.

The pulling increased, but now it was her limps. Alice kept her eyes closed as Hatter spoke, as light and dark flashed behind her closed lids. She thought perhaps she was spinning. Sound disappeared save for the beating of her frantic heart. She could feel energy leaving her, draining like a syrup from a pitcher. Alice almost opened her eyes, but something felt foreboding . Alice steeled herself, kept her mind focused and eyes closed.

-XXX-

Well, we are moving!

Review please!