CHAPTER3

After Dinner Inside The Castle

While going up to her room Alice passed a hall where her mother and Hatter were talking. "When will we tell her that she is to wed and become queen?" She hears her mother ask Hatter. She heard Hatter reply "Soon, your majesty. After she has slain the Jabberwocky." Alice heard enough and quietly ran to her room and cried herself to sleep.

Outside in the garden with the sun shining brightky and no clouds.

"Dodge, we've been training for half a lunar day now. Can we PLEASE take a break?" Alice wiped the sweat off her forhead.

"Oxford sounds lovely, the way you described it. Though never as charming as Wonderland and its Princess." Dodge smiled at her and Sat on the grass. Alice did the same.

"I'm not that lovely. Though, Wonderland is wonderful. I'm not lookig forward to the battle. I haven't been here in 13 years and I'm expected to slay the Jabberwocky. After, I am to be QUEEN!" She started to cry. "I heard Hatter and Mom talking. You know the rules for the changing of Queens. I must WED before I become queen. Dodge, I don't want a stuck up wealthy man to be my husband! I have never held another man's hand besides close family and friends in Wonderland. I never kissed a man either. In Oxford, I was arranged to be married. I left before it was too late. I want to marry when the time is right. This is all too much for me to stay sane."

Dodge put his arms around her as she cried into his chest. "Shh. Don't cry. It hurts me to see you cry. Hatter said the marriage will not happen until you are ready. Your mother will wait until you are ready. As for the battle, I will be with you the whole time. I will not let you be hurt. As a royal gaurdsman and as your best friend, I swear on my father's grave I will keep you safe. Even if it means sacraficing my life for yours. These tears you cry stain your beautiful cheeks. Please, Al, don't cry." He wiped away her tears as her crying slowed and stopped.

"Dodge...have you kissed a girl before?" Alice looked at him and then realized what she had said. "I don't know where that came from. I'm sorry. Um.." She looked at her hands. Too shy too look at him. He only laughed.

"Alice, no need to be so shy. No, I have not. There's a woman whom I love with all my heart. She will be my first kiss." He smiled at Alice who looked up at him. "Alice, I love you."

She gazed into his eyes. Her heart racing. Was this really happening to her? "Dodge, I have never stopped thinking about you and loving you."

"I've felt the same way." He looked at the clock on the tower close by and stood up, smiling down at Alice and holding his hand out for her to take. She took his hand and he pulled her up. "You need to see Rabbit. He is in the library." He kissed her cheek and pushed her towars the door. He looked up the castle wall and saw Hatter smiling and motioning to Dodge to go up. Dodge's smile soon faded.

"Hatter, you better not have been spying on us." He muttered to himself. With that he ran towards to the doors of the castle and up the stairs towards Hatter.

Alice was in an empty hallway. She leaned against the wall and put her hand on her cheek. Her cheeks red like the roses in the garden. "The man I am to wed, I hope is my dear Dodge." She looked down the hall and saw the doors to the library and ran off in that direction.

She burst through the doors and saw an irritated Rabbit. "Alice!! There you are. I have books you must read. 'The Jabberwocky', 'Imagine Black Imagination', and 'Sword of White'. In these books, you will read about the secrets that will help you defeat the Red Queen." He gave her the books and turned around and unrolled the scroll on the table behind him. "I think it's best to tell you of the other half of the prophecy."

Alice stopped him. "Rabbit, I overheard my mother and Hatter talking about it. I am content with this. Well, I am awfully tired. I shall read a part of one of these books and take a nap. I have much to do." She took the books and walked out of the library and up the spiral staircase to her room.

Once she got to her room she put the books on her desk. "Let's see, since I am to slay the Jabberwocky, the sword I must use should be the Sword of White. 'The sword of White made for King Jacob is made of pure White Imagination..." She sat on her bed and read a few pages until she fell asleep.