Disclaimer: I don't own it. You all know that...
Thanks for your patience guys. I'm so sorry for not updating, really. Two weeks is way too much, even for me. I didn't feel very comfortable about the last chapter, and I just got rather stuck on inspiration as to how to continue. With so many ideas flowing and possible directions to take, and so much I wanted to do, it just got to full procrastination. But I've found my muse once more and hopefully we will prevail unto the end without such dallying. Real life tensions and stresses are resolved, I'm up to date, and I am not giving up on this. Not to worry. Thank you so much to those who have reviewed, alerted, and favorited this story. I appreciate it. Thanks for sticking with me. ^^ It really does make me want to write more. You guys are simply amazing. Now then, enjoy!
Mallymkun grumbled lowly as she traveled through the narrow paths and passages known only to those who looked. Stayne's room was at one of the towers on the other side of the castle, very isolated, and a longs way for those of the walking creatures, specifically small, that is of course, if you didn't know the shortcuts, as Mally did. As she was running she couldn't help but complain. She had made an effort to see the Hatter, running through soot and all else unmentionable through the sewers of the castle, and all she'd gotten for her trouble was the simple speech of "Mallymkun, go find Alice."
Find Alice. Find Alice. She wasn't even the right Alice. She was nothing but an impostor, though the Hatter thought otherwise. His eyes were so hopeful... And look it'd all gotten them. The Hatter had allowed himself to get arrested. And meanwhile the real Alice was probably out there, without anyone to guide her. Underland was doomed. Oh the white Queen would be so disappointed...
Mallymkun didn't even have to ask why the Hatter wanted to her to this.
She knew why.
She was simply the right size for the job.
S~s~S~s~S
The morning rays streamed in through the window of the tower. The floor length maroon curtains served as a mold through which the rays focussed their lightbeam onto the closet shelf , through the tiny keyhole of the music box, before finally bouncing off the mirror and reflecting onto the face of the prone figure within.
Alice moaned uncomfortably in her sleep. She was having the most unusual dream. It was another one of the same, it was Underland, except different. The colors were brighter, more real, and this time it explored a part of the world she hadn't seen before, at least not clearly. It had been a courtroom. In the middle of which stood a plate of tarts and nearby a Knave, dressed in chains and under guard. She'd been called to stand, and he'd met her eyes almost immediately, his look fierce and dangerous, and so deep she simply couldn't look away, even when the world around her started to shrink as she grew, and when the underlining folds of Underland had ceased to exist, still his eyes had met hers, unmoving, emotionless, and hateful. That moment was broken as she heard a monstrous cry, turning just in time just to see the rearing head of a great black bird... A crow or turkey perhaps, it's spiteful claws reach for her. She screamed.
Gasping Alice shot up, yelping as she hit the side of the music box, clutching her chest and breathing heavily. She sat there uncomfortably for a moment, one hand on her chest, the other pressed against small bump on the back of her head. She let her hands drop whilst she looked around at her surroundings, noticing the single stream of light in the dark, closed space. The air smelt stale, the sounds were quiet, and this was most definitely not her room back in Somerset. Except she hadn't been at Somerset, no, she'd taken the carriage to court... It had been her engagement party, Hamish had proposed, she'd run and fell down the rabbit hole... Suddenly flashbacks of what had happened the day before in Underland up till being locked inside the music box came flooding back. It was a dream. She'd already had it, and now she could wake up. Reaching down she began to randomly pinch her arm, though it wasn't working, she was still there. She suddenly couldn't breath.
With that she began to slam against the lid of the box, causing it to shake and clink. "Let me out!"
Stayne had had an equally unsettling night, though his sleep was plagued by thoughts rather than dreams, worries of old, and new. What to do about the Hatter. What to do about the Queen. What to do about himself. What do to about Alice. His situation was a conflicting one that was quickly being threatened by that little blond chit. He'd awoken moments before the sun had risen which was not exactly a pleasant revelation. On days when the Queen didn't require him to do otherwise, he would take the chance to lie in, especially after such... Amorous evenings as last night. No, something had most definitely disturbed him. It was a sound, sort of like a muffled cry. Shrugging it off he sat up and went to the wash basin to clean his face and clear his head. The silence was disturbed once more by the banging of wood and the click of metal like that of the... Music box. Ah yes, Margaret. The Hatter's little friend. That was another worry he'd rather not deal with. However, he couldn't simply leave her there. At least not yet.
With only a sheet wrapped around his waist, he stood, and moved toward the dresser in which the music box lay. He contemplated opening it for a moment, and stopped as the desperate banging only seemed to increase. Shrugging he felt for the little gold key that was at the beside the box and quickly unlocked to lift the lid.
Alice was flushed and looking rather uncomfortable, just as Stayne opened his mouth to speak, he held up a tiny hand. "If you don't mind, before we begin, I have to relieve myself." She murmured, lowly in hopes of hiding her embarrassment. As he continued to do nothing but stare, she added hastily. "Now. Please In private."
Snorting and not bothering to respond other than with a smirk, Stayne lifted her without protest- for once- and set her down by the washbasin, turning his back to her. A moment's hesitation set Stayne to yell back. "Be quick about it!" Alice quickly complied rather than take the chance he'd turn around to find her in a less than favourable position, seeing as he refused to leave her alone. In that moment she truly disliked him, and tried to focus on that rather than the embarrassing situation.
"I'm done." She snapped back a moment later, watching as he turned back. Noticing his state of dress- or rather undress she quickly covered her eyes. "Would you mind?" She spoke in quick hushed tones.
Stayne smirked, amused as he enjoyed her innocent embarrassment. He shifted so he was leaning with his back upon the dressed, arms crossed. "Mind what, exactly?"
"Your state of dress, it isn't proper!"
Stayne looked down at the sheet which covered all necessary privacy and up again. "And what exactly is improper about my state of dress?"
"It's incident! And completely inappropriate when speaking to a member of the opposite sex! No matter what their size may be."
"Oh I'm not certain about that. I've found that most members of the opposite sex quite enjoy such conversations." His smirk deepened. "They unusually never want them to end."
"Please!" Alice cried, face burning as she wished he wouldn't tease her so.
"It's no less indecent then your bared shoulders, lack of stockings..." He spoke, moving unbeknown to Alice towards her, smiling as she kept whilst he learned down to her ear whisper. "And corset, for that matter." He added lowly, noting with satisfaction as she opened her hands to glare up at him. "Dreadfully indecent, wouldn't you agree?"
"As is keeping a lady captive in your room." Alice snapped. "Tell me, if you could, would you force such a conversation on me?" She asked daringly, hands on her hips and no longer hiding.
"Don't be absurd. Even large, you'd be flattering yourself." He said the words with such venom that she flinched. He moved to dress, allowing Alice to turn away whilst doing so. A few minutes later, without warning, he reached his grip around her waist, placed her on the table surface and turned her back to face his- thankfully- black-clad form, enjoying the look of surprise and anger. Surprise at his actions and anger in his handling of her.
"Good morning Miss Rose. And did you sleep well?"
"What did you do to that Hatter?" Alice snapped, not in the mood for games.
Stayne looked on in mock disapproval. "Tut tut, manners. And here I was only trying to make conversation. Didn't you learn your lesson yesterday?"
"Yes, not to trust one-eyed men. They're terribly unpleasant company."
"I meant of your place." Stayne growled. "You've no idea what I'm like when unpleasant and you'd be wise not to try my patience with your inane remarks, else you might just find out."
"I was simply trying to make conversation." Alice said innocently, before she said on a more serious note. "What did you do to the Hatter?"
Stayne huffed, taking a breath. "Nothing terribly unpleasant..." Though he knew the guards had handled him rather roughly as they'd 'shut him up' before taking him back to his cell. He clearly recalled a few rather meaningful blows to his ribs, sides, and gut had been dealt, not at all kindly. There would be bruising by the morning, that was most certain.
"If you hurt him..." She spoke and stopped. Neither bothered to comment. They both knew she was helpless to do anything useful in this situation. At least against him. Besides, Alice thought, she had to focus on escaping.
"What do you plan to do with me?" Alice asked instead, returning to last night's query which was never really answered... What time was it she wondered. How long had she been stuck in this awful dream...
Stayne thought a moment. "Are you hungry?" He asked instead, reaching out to ring the servant bell. It would arrive in a few minutes, and they would be done by then. He would make sure of it.
"That's not an answer."
"And I assure you it was not accidental." He said, watching her frown as she sat herself on the ledge, holding her head in hands.
"Now I have some more questions I'm going to ask you. I expect you to answer each fully and truthfully. First-"
"That's not fair!" She spoke, jumping up to face him. "Just because I'm smaller than you doesn't mean I deserve to be treated with any less respect than you do! You've asked me questions, I can't even ask you one. You expect me to answer, and if I don't I get punished. You've done nothing but man handle me since I've been here, pulling me this way against my will, and last night you locked me in a music box- A music box! What is a man like you doing with a music box anyhow? Really, you don't seem the sort. That's not important. I'm tired of you and everyone else telling me what I have to do, how I have to act, and treating me like a child. I had enough of it back home, and I won't put up with it here. I'm no less than you! Just because I'm small, it doesn't mean you have the right to use it against me." She glared. "How would you like it if you were mocked because of your size? To made to feel less, to be controlled, used, and taken advantage of, because it isn't 'fashionable'." A moment of silence from the Knave and she scoffed. "I thought so."
Stayne continued to say nothing for a moment, merely stared at her with an expression she couldn't quite read. If she didn't know better, she'd say it was... Wonder. "Are you hungry?"
Alice thought of saying no, but thought better than to deny the offer. Who knew when it'd come again. She nodded and at that moment a knock sounded at the door. Alice tensed.
Stayne held out his hands, one up for silence, though it was unnecessary. Alice knew well enough to be silent. "Halt a moment." Then he moved his hands to open the pot. "Inside." Stayne whispered, an order which Alice quickly complied with, landing softly upon the cloth. Stayne closed the lid and placed the pot innocuously on the night stand. "Enter." He snapped gruffly. A badger entered with a tea tray in one hand and breakfast in the other. The animal placed both on the table and moved to take the kettle, his intent to empty it into the teapot. "Leave it." Stayne spoke roughly. "On the table. I'll do it myself." The badger rather than question the request, did so and quickly scrambled out the room, door closing behind him. Once the sound of scattering paws had quieted, the Knave removed the lid and held out his hand for her to climb on.
With only a slight hesitation she did so. "Thank you." She said, as he placed her next to the plentiful breakfast tray. She noted that he hadn't been wearing any gloves. His palm had felt warm, soft and firm, yet calloused and rough. It was such an unusual combination and she couldn't help but wonder what would it be like- fully sized of course- to run her fingers across his palm. Shaking her head of such thoughts she focused her attention upon the food. The portions were huge. It must have taken a lot to satisfy his appetite- she blushed at the double entente in her mind, shaking such thoughts away and instead studying the plate. Eggs, toast, sausage, with a knife and two forks, a large dinner one, and a small salad fork which was most off. Next to the tea there was sugar, cream, and even bits of chocolate. It made her remember just how long it'd been since she'd eaten, though it also brought on another dilemma. "How am I supposed to eat? Everything's huge."
Sighing, Stayne took a handkerchief from his pocket- also black- and placed the plate of a candle base upon it. He then used the knife to cut bits of each food in a sizable portions, placing them onto the plate. He then took the salad fork and placed it next to her. He must have ordered it for her. It was... Considerate to say the least. "Eat." He ordered, his authoritative tone returning. And there it was gone, Alice sighed. With that she reached for the fork, which was only a few centimeters smaller than her, and began to eat, watching him pick up his utensils to do the same. A few moment's passed and he interrupted the silence. "The Duchess."
Alice stopped mid bite. "What?"
"The music box. It belonged to the Duchess."
He said no more after that as they settled back in to the silence of eating. Neither did she, though she couldn't help but smile. It was a start.
S~s~S~s~S
It was shortly before midday. Usually Stayne would be off riding Erebus, somewhere around the castle or forest. Then he would have to meet his Queen for duty before leaving for the search of Alice. He had a few ideas of where to go. The village, the forest once more, though he couldn't throw off the feeling that he was missing something. Something about the way the Hatter acted, something about the way Margaret answered her query about the girl... It made him suspicious. But how to get it out of them. He had no clue. Both were equally clever, and irritating to deal with. For the past hour or so however, between breakfast and lunch, which they'd eaten in the same manner. Turtle soup. Quite lovely, if he said so himself. Between meals however, he'd been... Reading. Under the premise of reading he'd watched as he allowed the girl to explore the room. She'd hopped around, reading the titles of his bookcase- that alone told him she was educated. Each with wonder and fascination, as if they were pudding. They were simple texts, factual texts, of war and strategy, history of Underland, poetry and plays he had never bothered to look at another such nonsense, but she'd took it all in. He'd never seen a woman so curious.
He noted her eyes as they stopped at one particular cover. Her whole body seemed to stiffen, her breath pause, and her eyes widened. "What is it?" He asked suddenly, starting to move toward her in order to see what had caused such a sudden reaction.
"Nothing." She croaked, taking a breath. And in that moment however, her form relaxed and her eyes moved off the book onto another. She said nothing after that, and so he'd let it go... For now.
When he'd asked if she'd like to read one, she'd hesitated but declined, with slight disappointment in her tone. Sighing, she looked up at the window, starting towards it. It was open in order for air to come in, and though Stayne didn't think she'd try anything, he still went to her side immediately. He watched her suspiciously as she took in the view below.
"It's a beautiful garden." She said, frowning as she look on further into the detail. "And such unusual creatures..." A sort of green big and bird, a very mop-like one, with feathers sticking out so she was surprised they didn't all fall off.
Stayne frowned. "Have you never seen a Borogove and Rath?"
"Not in Illyria. The Queen must like animals, to have such a collection."
Stayne chuckled, the sound of which startled Alice in its sincerity. "Not exactly." She detested them, however they were the only creatures that could put up with her, at least under servitude. They were also most easy to replace and dispose of, which was more than he could say for her human companions. "Why did you leave?"
She hadn't answered, and remained silent about the topic, happy to simply gaze outside, however much it peeved him. He'd gone back to reading. Only at present had she spoken again.
"Do I have to go back in there?" Alice asked flatly, as Stayne held out the music for her to jump in, allowing her a chance to do voluntarily, else he would push her in, as he'd explained moments before. He had replaced his gloves once more and she realized with them, his mask of patience. "I could just stay in the room. You could lock the window, the door, there would be no way I could escape."
Ilosovic considered the suggestion a moment before shaking his head. He couldn't take the risk. "No. You will stay in the box until I get back."
"You could take me with you then. Hidden of course but still... Please. I hate it in there. What if I have to get out again. I'll be helpless. Can't you just trust me?"
"I trust no one." Stayne spoke flatly, eye trained on her. "In. Now."
Alice sighed and jumped in. "Do what you will." She spoke coldly, watching as the sunlight turned to shadows and darkness with the closing of the lid. Closing her eyes as the lock clicked in place and peeping through the keyhole as he placed the key upon the windowsill and moved her within the box onto the table top. She would never reach it now. She heard as his footsteps echoed out the room, and she was left alone.
"I thought he'd never leave." A small voice squeaked, and Alice jumped, banging her head forgetfully once more upon the lid.
"Now for that key..." Shuffling sounds. "Really he made this too easy." More shuffling, closer to her. Alice held her breath in panic. Who was it? Was it a friend or a foe? What would they do if they found her? Would she be taken to the Queen? What would she do? All these thoughts were running through Alice's head as the lock turned, startling her out of her wits and making her fall frozen into place upon the base of the box. The lid lifted to reveal-
"Mallymkum?" Alice spoke in surprise.
"Don't just lie there, get up." Mally ordered. As Alice did so she mused. "You look fine enough. Are you fine?" There was no concern in her voice, simply frankness.
"I'm fine... What are you doing here? How did you get in here?"
"The same way we're getting out. Hurry. We've only a few hours until he gets back." Without warning the mouse grabbed onto her arm and began to drag her away onto the floor and then towards a small mouse hole Alice hadn't noticed before behind the table.
"Where are we going?" Alice asked as they began running through the tunnels.
"To see the Hatter."
End note: Now I hope you enjoyed that. No more two week waits, I promise you. In fact, there should be another chapter up around Wednesday or Thursday-ish. And until it's done, possibly two updates a week. We'll see.
In case any of you aren't familiar with the book or haven't seen a version that includes her, the Dutchess is one of the characters who I absolutely adored and became one of my favorite characters after watching the Hallmark version of Alice in Wonderland. It's an amazing adaptation if you haven't seen it (Youtube has it) which I would fully recommend. And also has a rather interesting take on our lovely Knave...
P.S. This might be a bit of an inappropriate question but I'm having some trouble. I personally use Word Perfect X4, and each time I upload it always comes out like... Well this. No separations between scenes, and an inability to maintain them when attempt to edit them in. The same occurs when I attempt to create spaces between the sentences. If anyone has some advice on what I could do to fix this, please PM me or add it in your response. I would really really appreciate it, not only because it would be helpful/organized when reading for you all but also because it'd be simply nicer that way...
As always, thank you for reading. Please comment and review. ^^