Chapter 5: In Which Alice Meets the March Hare

By dawn, they had reached the rickety seaside cottage the March Hare called home.

Edward grinned up at Alice. "You're fast. How do you do it?"

"I've been in gymnastics programs since I was a little girl. I had to learn to be fast, graceful, and balanced if I wanted to do anywhere near well."

Edward nodded thoughtfully, then turned and pawed at the door. "Hare, open up. It's your friend the cat."

The door swung open, and a weird, whispery child's voice sang, "Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been? I've been to London to visit the queen. Pussy cat, pussy cat, what did you there? I frightened a little mouse under her chair."

Alice took a step back, looking apprehensive.

Edward chuckled. "Don't worry, Alice. The Hare is good people, if a little insane." he peered up at Alice. "Don't you trust me?" he asked.

"O-of course I trust you. Aside from saving my life, you're helping with a mission I'd have no idea how to complete on my own."

Edward smiled. "I'm glad. Now come on, time's a' wastin'." and he entered the home of the March Hare.

Alice followed.

The 'March Hare' turned out to be an elderly woman with long white hair and vacant dark eyes. "Put another log on the fire," she bid Alice with an empty smile, gesturing off into nowhere.

"Why do they call her the March Hare?" Alice whispered to Edward, curtsying before the March Hare.

"Because her real name is Marscha O' Hare. After she drove herself insane, she thought it'd be clever to take s, a, and o out of her name and call herself March Hare."

Alice nodded in understanding, and Edward placed his paws on the March Hare's knee. "Hare, this is very important. We need you to tell us where the White Queen is. Alice has to help her. Alice is the Golden Star of Hope." he told Alice under breath, "Do what I'm doing!"

So Alice kneeled and placed her hands on the Hare's other knee. The Hare reached out and petted Alice's hair. "Twinkle, twinkle little Star, how I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle little Star, how I wonder what you are." she crooned.

"Yes, Hare." Edward said. "That's right. How about a riddle?"

She clapped in delight. "Riddles! Riddles! Me first!" she paused to think, then clapped again."First name the one who lives in disguise. Who deals in secrets, and tells naught but lies.

Next tell me the sound often heard, during the search for a hard-to-find word. Then tell me the letter to lend, at the middle of the middle and end of the end.

Put all together and answer me this: what is a creature you wouldn't want to kiss?" she asked.

"One who lives in disguise...that'd be a spy...that next bit is...er...er..." Edward mumbled.

"Spy, er...spy, er..." Alice said under her breath.

"SPIDER!" Alice and Edward yelled at the same time.

The March Hare giggled and clapped enthusiastically, then looked at Alice. "Your turn." she said, and then recited. "Jack tried to be nimble, Jack tried to be quick, but what part burned him, when he jumped over the candlestick?

Alice frowned, visualizing in her mind. 'He jumped over...and got burned... "The wick!" she cried.

The Hare giggled again and turned back to Edward. "I've got one more bit of advice for you boy: to find the answers you seek, question the one who was taken from Troy."

"Helen." he answered with an air of lazy confidence. "Helen of Troy was kidnapped by the Grecian prince Paris, sparking the Trojan War."

The answer quite clearly spelled out a name: Spiderwick, Helen.

The March Hare giggled, clapped her hands and ran into the back of her cottage. She didn't re-emerge herself, but she did throw a dress and cloak to them. A note that read "disguise for you" in shaky, childish writing was attached.

Edward turned his back so Alice could change into the clothes.

As they left, Alice said. "We asked for a place and she gave us a name. Edward, tell me, does the name 'Helen Spiderwick' mean anything to you?"

Edward smiled. "Yes, it does. And exactly what it means to me is that the Hare was telling us the White Queen is hiding in the tomb of Helen Spiderwick.

AN: Dun dun dun dun! Who is Helen Spiderwick? Was the Hare telling the truth? Why am I asking you readers questions you don't know the answers to? Find out in Chapter 6: In Which the White Queen is Discovered. Review please!