A Wonderland Wedding

Chapter Two: The Guests Gather

Victoria and Michael gazed eagerly out the window of the carriage at the sight of the busy docks. Michael turned to his mother and father, a smile on his face. "I can't wait to see Grandda."

Alannah smiled. "I'm sure he's looking forward to seeing all of us."

The carriage came to a halt, and the driver, a tall frog dressed in the white livery of Marmoreal, hopped down from his seat and opened the door. "We've arrived at the docks, Me Lady," he croaked. Alannah smiled at him and descended from the carriage.

"Thank you, Bartholomew. We should be back soon."

Stayne and the children stepped out of the carriage, looking around at the busy docks. Stayne sighed. "So, which dock is Elias supposed to land at?"

Alannah frowned for a moment in thought, and then brightened up, pointing to a dock at the far end of the port. "That one." She set off for the dock, Stayne and the children following.

Alannah stood on the dock, peering out to sea, and then began to wave her arms frantically, shouting in joy. "Daidi! Daidi!"

Stayne chuckled. "I don't think he can hear you yet, love." Alannah glared balefully at him.

"I realize that, thank you. Daidi!" Stayne shook his head in amusement, watching as the Golden Bird sailed towards the docks. Stayne smiled.

"She's quite the beautiful ship."

Alannah nodded. "She is." She grinned widely as she spotted a figure on the deck, its arms waving frantically. "Daidi!"

The helmsman bought the Golden Bird to a halt, and Elias Sullivan ran over to the gangplank and bought it down on the docks with a thud. "Alannah!"

Alannah beamed and ran on board, pulling her father into a crushing hug. "Hello Daidi."

Elias smiled and gently kissed the side of her head. "Hello, my inion." He extended a hand towards Stayne. "Ilosovic, good to see you again."

Stayne nodded. "You too, Elias. I take it business is going well?"

Elias grinned. "Couldn't be better." His eyes went past Stayne and widened in mock surprise. "Why! Surely this cute little lass can't be Victoria! My dear, you have gotten much prettier since we last met. Katarina, you look more like your mother every time I see you, and Michael, you are quite the handsome lad."

Michael smiled. "Thanks Grandda. I'm really excited about getting married."

Elias nodded seriously. "It's a wonderful feeling. Just be sure to remember this one thing-your wife is always right. Even if she's wrong, she's right." He grinned over at Stayne. "Right?"

Stayne laughed. "Right." He looked over at the ship. "Elias, someone's coming down the gangplank."

A tall, slim, and muscular young man of about thirty with light brown hair and green blue eyes walked over to them. Elias smiled. "Yes, Rogers?"

"Captain, did you want me to..." Erik Rogers trailed off, eyes wide in wonder. Stayne and Alannah followed his gaze, and Alannah bit back a grin. He was staring at Katarina, transfixed. Then Alannah noticed the same look in her daughter's eyes, and her own widened in shock.

Elias decided to step in and save the situation. "Rogers, this is my eldest granddaughter, Katarina. Katarina, this is my First Mate, Erik Rogers."

Erik gently grasped Katarina's hand, kissing her knuckles in a courtly manner. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Katarina."

Katarina smiled, blushing. "I'm very pleased to meet you as well."

Stayne and Alannah gaped in shock at each other, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.

Katarina, tough, tomboyish Katarina-had just blushed.

Alannah bit back a giggle as she addressed Erik. "It seems my daughter has taken a shine to you. Therefore, if my father and Ilosovic don't object, I think you should be her guest at the Wedding."

Elias grinned, shaking his head. "I've no objection at all, and I can assure you that Erik is a perfect gentleman."

Alannah looked over at Stayne. "Any objections, love?"

Stayne shook his head. "Not at all."

Erik smiled in relief and offered his arm to Katarina. "My Lady, might I be allowed to escort you to your carriage?" Katarina nodded, extending her arm.

"I would like that very much, Mr. Rogers."

"I insist that you call me Erik."

Katarina smiled coyly at him. "Very well, Erik." They set off towards the carriage, quietly talking, and Stayne laughed, shaking his head.

"I never thought I'd see that."

Alannah nodded. "Me neither." Seeing the puzzled look on her father's face, she explained. "Katarina has had many offers from the young lords of Marmoreal, but she has refused them all. She prefers to marry for love, not prestige, and frankly, none of the lords her age are a worthy match for her."

Elias smiled softly. "Her mother fell in love with a soldier, and it looks like she's enamored of a sailor."

Alannah smiled and softly kissed Ilosovic. "I'm still enamored with my soldier." She turned and grinned at her father. "Well, shall we head back to Marmoreal?"

Elias nodded. "We should indeed."

Alice paced up and down the length of Tarrant's shop, reading and re reading the letter that she had received the day before. Tarrant, who was putting the finishing touches on the Hat he was going to wear to the wedding, looked up at her, sighing. "Alice love, you've read that letter so many times that you must have it memorized by now. You're not going to discover any hidden meaning in it."

Alice sighed in frustration. "Oh, I know! I just wish Mum would be a bit more specific! All she says is that she's bringing a 'surprise guest', and that's all!"

Tarrant chuckled. "Love, if she told you any more than that it would not be a surprise, would it?" Alice sighed, shaking her head, and Tarrant grinned. "Good. Now, purple or blue for the ribbon?"

He held up the two ribbons, and Alice pointed to the blue. "That one. It will go nicely with your suit." She turned at the sound of a knock on the door. "Come in!"

Arianna came running in, beaming. "I've finished!"

Alice smiled at her. "Finished what, sweetheart?"

"My wedding dress! Oh, you have to come see it!" She grabbed Alice and Tarrant's hands, pulling them out of the shop and towards her Sewing Room, babbling the whole time. "It took me hours and hours to get right and I think it's the prettiest dress I've ever made and I hope Michael likes it and I can't believe I'm marrying him in a week and I love him so much and…"

"Arianna!" Alice laughed. "Slow down, love. Your dress isn't going anywhere."

Arianna laughed. "I know, Mum. But I can't help being excited." She led her parents over to the far corner of her shop, and Alice and Tarrant gave a gasp of delight at the dress hanging on the wall.

It was a light purple, with a simple neckline and long sleeves. The skirt was patterned in purple and light green, and it had been made to be worn without a corset, and the material was light and soft. Tarrant was the first to find his voice. "Lass that may be the most beautiful dress you have ever made. You will look absolutely gorgeous."

Alice nodded in agreement, awestruck at her daughter's skill. "I agree, you will look beautiful." She suddenly burst into happy tears and pulled Arianna into a tight hug. "I can't believe my baby is getting married! Oh Ari, I am so thrilled!"

Arianna hugged her just as tightly. "I know Mum, and I can't wait."

There was a knock on the door, and Mctwisp entered, smiling. "Miss Arianna, the Staynes have returned from the docks."

Arianna beamed in joy and bolted out the door, running as fast as she could towards the Main Hall, crying out in joy as she spotted her lad. "Michael!" She ran up to her love and threw herself in his arms, kissing him as hard as she could. Michael wrapped his arms around her and kissed back, sighing happily.

"Hello my gorgeous lass!"

Arianna smiled. "Hello my handsome lad." She looked over at the others. "Captain Sullivan, it is nice to see you again."

Elias smiled. "My dear, there is no need to be so formal. You may call me Grandda Elias. After all, you are going to be family."

Arianna blushed. "Alright, Grandda."

At the Kingsley Estate, Helen was preparing to leave for Underland. She smiled at her friend. "Now, remember what I told you. I'll take a drink of the potion and you hold on to me, and we'll be at Marmoreal quicker than you can blink."

Her friend smiled. "I'm looking forward to meeting your daughters, Helen. From what you told me, they both seem like wonderful young ladies, and the place where they live sounds truly magical."

Helen smiled. "Oh, it is. I always have so much fun when I visit them. Now, are you ready?"

"I most certainly am."

They clasped hands, and Helen gulped down the potion then shut her eyes, feeling the familiar tug as she was pulled into Underland. She opened her eyes, and grinned, then looked over at her friend, who was staring in awe at the splendor that was Marmoreal. "Welcome to Underland."

"It's…magnificent."

Helen smiled. "It is. This is Marmoreal, the castle of the White Queen, Mirana. Come along and I'll introduce you to everyone."

They walked up to the doors, and Helen knocked smartly. The door was opened a few moments later by Mctwisp. "Mrs. Kingsley! What a pleasure to see you again! Come in, both of you, come in!"

Helen and her friend entered, and the latter looked at her in shock. "Did that rabbit just talk?" Helen nodded. "Fascinating!"

Helen was about to answer when she spotted Alice coming along the corridor. "Alice!"

Alice spotted her mother and beamed in joy-then paused in slight surprise at the gentleman standing next to her. He was tall, with brown hair peppered with grey, a friendly face, and light green eyes. Alice, wondering who he could be, walked over to them, a smile on her face. "Mother, I'm so glad to see you."

Helen pulled her into a hug. "So am I, my dear. Alice, this is Sir Richard Devons. He and I met last year at the Cartwright's Christmas party."

Alice smiled at him. "I am very pleased to meet you, Sir Richard."

Sir Richard bowed. "The pleasure is mine, Mrs. …Hightopp?" He looked to Helen for confirmation, and she nodded. "Helen has told me all about you."

Alice blushed. "I hope not everything, Sir Richard."

He chuckled. "No, not everything. I hope you will give me a chance to get to know you better." Alice nodded, and he smiled. "Excellent."

Helen sighed in relief. "I was a bit nervous about bringing him. I didn't know how you would react to the revelation that…well…"

Alice smiled. "Mum, I am more than happy that you've found someone. I know you still love Father, but I'm sure he would have wanted you to be happy."

Helen nodded, wiping a stray tear off her face. "Thank you, Alice. Now we just have to see if he can handle that mad family of yours!"

Alice grinned. "Well, we're all having tea in the Main Garden, if you would care to join us. There's more than enough for everyone."

Sir Richard nodded. "That would be most agreeable, Alice-if I may?"

"You may. Come this way, please."

Alice led them out to the Main Garden, where a veritable feast had been set up. There were two long tables piled high with tea, cakes, scones, pastries, pies, meats, cheeses, fruits, and all sorts of drinks. Seated at the table were the Stayne, Hightopp, and Blanchard Clans, as well as Mirana, Erik Rogers, Elias, Chessur, Mctwisp, Mally, and Thackery. The conversation flowed thick and fast.

Sir Richard gaped at the sight. "I've never seen so much food in my life!"

Alice laughed. "Tarrant takes his Tea Parties quite seriously. Come on and join the fun."

Alice made introductions all around, and then the three of them sat down and joined the feast, Sir Richard easily joining in on the conversation. He had been a bit in awe of Mirana, but she had smiled at him in a friendly manner, alleviating his fear.

"Majesty?"

Mirana looked over at the servant that had entered the Garden. "Yes, William?"

"Captain and Lady Bierce have arrived."

Alannah bit back a grin at the utterly gobsmacked looks that appeared on Mirana and Ilosovic's faces. Mirana was the first to find her voice. "Ummm…please inform them that we are in the Main Garden."

William bowed. "Yes, Majesty." He left, and Stayne and Mirana exchanged looks of shock, and Stayne looked over at Alannah.

"Do you know anything about this?"

Alannah grinned. "I told you you'd like my surprise."

Stayne smiled. "I do. How did you find him? He disappeared before the Horrendevush Day."

Alannah chuckled. "I got an order for my arthritis potion a few months ago from a Lady Cassandra Bierce. The name sounded familiar, so I asked her if she knew Mark Bierce, and she told me that was her husband's name. I know you admired him greatly when you were young, so I decided to invite him to the wedding."

Stayne smiled, then gulped as his former mentor and captain came walking into the Garden, leaning heavily on a polished oak staff. Captain Bierce hobbled over to him, a smile on his wrinkled face. "Well, well. Ilosovic Stayne. What a delight it is to see you."

Stayne smiled. "I'm glad to see you too, Sir."

Captain Bierce laughed. "Come now, I think you are more than old enough to call me by my given name. I've been following your career, you know. You made me very proud." Stayne gulped, and Bierce stared firmly into his eye. "You listen to me lad-what you did in the past is just that-past. I am proud of what you have accomplished. You have a fine, intelligent, beautiful wife, and from what she told me-three wonderful children. I could not be prouder of you if you were my own son."

Stayne swelled in pride. "Thank you…Mark."

Captain Bierce smiled, and then turned to Mirana. "Mirana, you are looking radiant."

"Thank you, Captain. I am most pleased to see you again. And this must be your lovely wife."

Bierce smiled. "This is she. Cassandra, this is Mirana of Marmoreal."

Cassandra bobbed a curtsey. "I'm very honored to meet you, Your Majesty."

Mirana smiled at her. "Please, call me Mirana. Come, sit, and join us. We've got more than enough for everyone!"

In her bedroom in modern day London, Lydia Keane had finally finished wrapping the present she was going to give to Arianna. She adjusted her dress-a Victorian Era one she had bought in an antique shop a few days before-then held her present under her arm and uncorked her bottle of potion, taking a gulp.

She felt a strange tugging at her arms, and shut her eyes as the world suddenly went grey around her. She felt as though she was being pulled through a tunnel, but the feeling was not an unpleasant one.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself standing outside the gates of Marmoreal. She grinned, hearing the sounds of a party in the Garden, and began walking down the path towards her friends.

Tarrant was the first to spot her, and he grinned madly, waving. "Lydia! So glad you could come!"

"Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss this for the world! It's wonderful to see all of you again." She smiled at Alannah. "And I must say that traveling by potion is certainly more pleasant than falling down a hole. Oh, I brought something for Arianna."

She handed Arianna the wrapped package. "Don't open it until the wedding." Arianna smiled and shook her head.

"I won't, Lydia. Join the feast!"

Lydia grinned and sat at the table. "Don't mind if I do!"

Author's Note-I have a question. What should the present from Lydia be? I want it to be something that could conceivably fit in the time period of Underland, which means no technology or packaged foods-she's not giving Arianna a box of Hershey's. PM me with suggestions or write them in a review. I'll pick one at random.