A / N : once again, - gosh I'm beginning to sound like a broken record but - thank you for all those that has taken interest in this story so far. You have no idea how much it means to me when I logg on and see your various reviews, story alerts, favorites - just thank you :)
First things first, reviews. Yes, I love them - and I love answering them too! Inubaki, I couldn't reply to your review however :(, and it was such a lovely one too! So, I will reply to it here! Thank you for your wonderful compliments, it honestly made me smile while I was reading it. I'm glad to know you're enjoying the story so far, and I only hope you carry on enjoying it. The same goes for the rest of you, too.
Now, chapter 4. And we're about to meet yet another character you'll be all too familiar with. Yes, Alice and the Hatter ( or - Tarrant if you'd prefer) are off to meet the Queen! I hope you like this chapter. ( I don't have much to say about this for once. It was hard to write - but that's because I'm itching to get onto the next chapter, haha :) )
A Royal Visit
When Alice and the Hatter arrived at the White Queens castle, they were both warmly greeted by their friend's welcoming smile, arms outstretched in a way of welcoming the two of them. Alice always felt comfortable in the presence of the woman who was in front of them - almost as comfortable as she was around the Hatter – and she felt it had something to do with the woman's kindness.
"Alice! Hatter! How nice it is to see the two of you!" She exclaimed, her smile only growing.
Alice then fell into a curtsey before the woman, noticing out of the corner of her eye that the Hatter had also gone to bow himself.
"Your Majesty," the two of them spoke in union.
The Queen however, sighed and put her hands on her hips, watching the two of them before her. Alice turned her head slightly so that she could see the expression on her face, and saw that it carried a small ounce of annoyance within it.
"Oh honestly, you two. When will you ever listen to me? Time and time again I have informed you that the neither of you have to act so formal in front of me, and yet you still do! We are all friends are we not? You two do not have to bow, nor do you have to refer to me by my title. You may both call me Mirana."
Both Alice and the Hatter moved to stand up straight then. Of course, Mirana had mentioned it before – but Alice couldn't help but fall for the same procedure all the time. After all, had she been back in London and faced with royalty there, she would have most definitely been expected to show such manners. Remembering what the three of them had been through however, such as the whole ordeal with the Jabberwocky and the Red Queen, Alice could understand her friends reasoning, and was rather grateful that she treated the two of them as friends.
"Of course. I'm sorry, I forgot," She replied, deciding to keep to honesty once again.
"Yes yes, just don't forget it again, the both of you. Otherwise I'll refer to you both as Mr Hightopp and Miss Kingsley, and I really don't want to have to do that." Mirana said; a look of disgust evident on her face at just the thought of acting so formal towards them.
"I – heard you wanted to speak to me about something?" Alice found herself asking, wanting nothing but to divert from the conversation they were currently locked in. In her mind, Alice made a mental note to refer to her friend by name in future – so as to avoid such a discussion again.
Mirana's face changed from its look of disgust to one of happiness once again, a smile reappearing.
"Oh yes! I would have waited for you to return, but then I wasn't sure if you'd get my message in time or not. Which is why I sent Nivens to search for you."She turned then, indicating that they should join her in the room behind her. "Come, let us sit and talk in here."
Alice was about to begin to walk, when she felt the Hatter shuffle beside her.
"Perhaps I should wait out here while the two of you talk." He said, obviously not wanting to intrude on whatever it was Mirana had to share with Alice.
At that reply however, Mirana turned around sharply to look at the both them, her expression slightly shocked.
"Heavens no! You're welcome to join us too. After all, you'll probably learn of what I wish to share sooner or later, you might as well hear it now."
And so Mirana turned around again and proceeded to walk into the room. Alice and the Hatter exchanged a glance, both their expressions full of wonder at what it was that their friend had to share. After a moment of standing there, Alice took his hand and followed after Mirana, pulling the Hatter with her as she went.
When the two of them entered the room, they found that they were in a rather large seating area. Before them was a small select number of – what appeared to be – very comfortable chairs, just enough arranged for them to sit and talk. The room, just as the person was who owned it, was very inviting, and Alice only felt even more at home as she entered. Of course, considering she was currently using the castle as a place of residence for her time spent in Underland, Alice knew that she would feel comfortable in such an area.
She turned to face where the Queen was, and noticed that she had taken a seat in one of the chairs that were available. Meeting her gaze, Mirana offered the other seats to the two of them, gesturing for them to sit down with her.
"Please, sit and make yourselves comfortable."
Alice removed her grasp from her friends hand and did as she was told, sitting in a creamy white chair that was available to her. The Hatter sat in the available chair next to her, and Alice noticed the warm smile the Queen gave the two of them out of the corner of her eye. A silent moment passed for them all to get comfortable, and then, Mirana spoke up once again.
"So, I guess you're wondering what it is I wanted to talk to you about, yes?" She asked, looking at them with the smile still on her face.
"Yes actually," Alice replied as she felt herself nodding in agreement. Her friends smile only grew slightly at her hidden secret, and Alice felt that as it did so, so did her own curiosity over the meeting they were currently having.
"Well, it is no big secret or task – so you shouldn't worry yourself. In fact, it was really a very simple reason why I asked for you." Mirana paused, looking back at the two of them. Sensing there was no objection, she continued on. "In a few weeks time, I will be holding a celebratory ball. Here. In the castle. I thought that as you are currently living here, you would like to know about it before it becomes widespread knowledge."
Alice blinked. All she was brought forward for discussion for was because the Queen was holding a ball? As much as she was glad to be informed about it – Alice could hardly see any reason why she would mind. After all, she was beginning to understand what these celebratory events meant to the people in Underland and how important they were, as she recalled from the celebration that was held after she defeated the Jabberwocky. Still, Alice couldn't help but feel that that wasn't the only reason why her friend wanted to talk to her, and that she was about to find out the other part of her story.
"A celebration? Why, that sounds lovely! But, forgive me – for I am not sure why you felt you had to discuss this with me."
Mirana only laughed then, as if expecting Alice's reply. Alice however, was only even more confused. She turned to look at the Hatter then, blinking as she did so, and noticed that his expression was – well, was normal for him really. Was she the only one that was confused?
"Oh Alice, there is more about the occasion that I want to discuss with you!"
Ah. So, now would be the rest of the explanation as to the meeting. She expected that much. Alice turned back to face Mirana as she continued talking.
"You see, it is a most joyous occasion indeed that we will be celebrating. One of our most celebrated holidays in fact. And well, I suppose the real reason I wished to discuss it with you now is, because I wish to ask you if you'll be a guest of honour to such an event."
Alice felt herself blink then. Her? A guest of honour? Why, whatever for?
"Guest of honour?" She questioned, the confusion she was currently feeling once again evident within her voice.
"Why of course! It is of no surprise that most of us in Underland adore you Alice, and that a great many of us are grateful for all you've done for our world. To have you as a guest of honour at such an event, why, it would please us greatly. And you do deserve it. Consider it as our way of saying thank you for all you've done for us."
Alice was stunned. She didn't know what to say. How far could her friend's generosity extend? Her? A guest of honour at a celebratory ball? Never in her dreams had she ever considered such a proposition would be made in front of her.
As if taking her reaction as a bad one, the Queens face fell slightly. Her smile was replaced with a look of worry, as if she had said something wrong, or something to somehow offend the girl.
"You – do not wish of being such?" She asked.
Alice broke out of her stunned daze then, looking back at the Queen once again.
"No! No, it's nothing like that it's just –" She paused, as if trying to form the correct words for her reply in her mind. "It's just, I – never would have expected such an honour, your majes- I mean Mirana."
"So is it a yes then?"
Alice paused again slightly, and nodded.
"Yes. I would be honoured to."
"Excellent!" Mirana said, clapping her hands together, the smile she held previously returning to her face once again. "I'm sure everyone will be more than happy to see you there!"
Alice nodded, and smiled sheepishly. She turned to look at the Hatter once again, noticing that he was looking back at her with a grin on his face too. Well, it seemed that she had made the right decision, judging by her friend's elated expressions.
Mirana turned to face the Hatter then, still smiling.
"I take it you are here about my proposition to you as well?"
The Hatter turned to look at Mirana then, nodding as she did so.
"As a matter of fact, yes, I am."
Just then, Alice felt her stomach grumble. Well, she thought she felt it. It turned out she more, heard it. And not only had she, but her friends also. Embarrassed, she tried to avoid their stares at her and her talking stomach. Both of them however burst into laughter at such a thing, and Alice felt her embarrassment only grow even more.
"Oh Alice, has the Hatter not fed you properly today?" She heard Mirana say, chuckling as she did so. "Why don't you go down to the kitchens and find something to eat?"
Alice turned to look at her friends then, and was met by both of their warm smiles. Well, she was very hungry – even if she didn't really want to admit it. After hesitating for a moment she nodded, and got up to leave the room – and to leave the two of them to discuss whatever it was the Hatter had come to discuss with the Queen.
As Alice walked down the hallway to where the kitchen was located, she couldn't help but think about all that had happened in her day, and the events which had happened since she had decided to remain in Underland. Since she decided to stay, not one day disappointed her, and she was constantly met with new, thrilling adventures and scenes that decided to appear before her. Her friends had been nothing more than welcoming to her, and Alice was very glad to have met all of them.
She walked into the kitchen and, noticing that no one was there at the time being, proceeded to make herself a sandwich with what ingredients were lying around. As she did so, her mind continued to go on thinking about how honestly happy she was with her life now. How she felt that she finally belonged somewhere, and that she was no longer being constantly judged for being slightly different from others around her. Often, her mind would fall unto one person in particular – that being her best friend, the Hatter.
No matter what had happened, he had always been there for her. Had she needed help, he was there in a heartbeat to help her. Alice couldn't count the amount of times he'd saved her when they tried to claim Mirana's throne back. How it had been him who was a hundred percent sure that she was, indeed the Alice they needed, the Alice they wanted, and how he continued to stand by her, even when all others thought otherwise. It had been the Hatter that had helped her find her lost muchness, allowing her to return back to the Alice that everyone had been searching so hard for. And that's not to mention all he'd done for her since. Since Alice had decided to remain in Underland, and when she had decided she wanted to learn more about the world she loved so much, it had been the Hatter who was once again, more than happy to be her friend, teacher and guide through it all. He often took her to places that he thought she'd love, or tell her interesting facts about the land – and Alice was never disappointed by what he had to offer her. Since she had stayed, she felt that she was beginning to get to know the man even more, and that made her happy. Happy that she was able to have the time to be with him and to understand him more and more for whom he was on the inside, and not just know him by his title, or by what others said of him.
"Don't feed you properly indeed. It's not my fault Thackery stole most of the cake."
Alice smiled, and turned to find the Hatter standing in the doorway. She looked over at her sandwich, now complete – and then looked back to find him walking towards her.
"Well, your discussion with Mirana was quick!" Alice replied.
"Indeed it was." He stopped walking when he was in front of her, and looked over at the sandwich she had made. Alice knew that he was judging the job she had done of making her snack, and so whilst he wasn't looking she rolled her eyes.
"What did you two talk about?"
"Hmm?" The Hatter replied, looking back from the sandwich to Alice again. Alice noticed confusion fall on his face again for a second, but was replaced by understanding shortly after – as if only just realising what she had asked him. "Oh! Nothing much really. Only, she offered me my job back in the castle, and well – I decided to take it."
Alice looked up at him them, happiness beaming from her eyes at what he had told her.
"Why, but that's wonderful! You can now continue working on what you love the most!"
Noticing her expression, the Hatter broke into a large smile himself then. Alice could only but imagine what having his job back would mean to him. Knowing all too well how much he loved working on creating things; she only knew that he must have been completely ecstatic over the idea.
"It is rather isn't it? I already have so many ideas of things to make. I should probably sketch them down before I forget. A number of hats and various other things. Yes, a great many ideas. Oh, and of course there's your dress too, which I can't wait to get started on. We really need to discuss what you want done with that you know? I guess I should get to moving some of my fabric and equipment over here soon ..."
Alice watched as the Hatter went into one of his rambling modes again. Judging by how happy he was, she didn't have to heart to break him out of it. To see him, completely and utterly happy and in his element of creativity – well, it only made her ever happier to witness such a thing.
So as he continued to discuss his future plans for god knows how many things he had planned to create within his mind, Alice made another sandwich. Not for her, but for him. After all, she had a feeling that the two of them would be stuck in this conversation for a rather long time. Not that she minded. No, she didn't mind at all. In fact, she couldn't remember when she had ever been happier.
And a few notes here that I didn't want to post before at the risk of revealing contents of this chapter.
To clear up any confusion on the whole 'guest of honour' thing, I will playing on the definition that Alice will be 'a guest attending a festivity or ceremony by special invitation' ( a definition which best explains my actions ). This is incase, any of you think that the celebration is for Alice. It won't be, it is just an occasion which means alot to them, okay? Okay.
Next chapter - oh do I reveal? Hehe, I'll give you a hint - it revolves around 'dresses' :) Thank you for taking an interest in this story, and hoped you like the chapter. Don't forget the little 'review' button. (those adding this to alerts and favs, would you mind leaving a review too? I'm a nice person, honestly :D)