Disclaimer: Wishing I owned it...*Sigh* But sadly I do not own A Witch's Tale

As penance for not updating for a long time I am putting on two chapters at once. Enjoy! ^_^

Chapter 3

Liddell rushed after the White Rabbit, she could only just see him. Around them the forest grew thicker and the path started to disappear. Liddell continued on, determined to catch up to the White Rabbit. She was almost upon him when he suddenly disappeared. Confused, Liddell slowed her pace and took a good look around her. Nothing around her was familiar. Deep down she knew what had happened... She was truly and utterly lost. Realizing this fact, Liddell started to get a little frightened. She did not know where she was and her only guide had vanished, so she called out to the White Rabbit, hoping he would answer, "White Rabbit! Where did you go?"

Continuing, she kept calling out; only to get no answer. It was getting darker and darker the more she traveled. She was tired and thirsty from calling out so much. She decided to sit down and catch her breath. Using her magic, she made a canteen of water appear and drank from it; gulping the water down greedily. She knew she could just teleported herself from the forest and to the school safely, but she wouldn't give up until her questions were answered, and for that she needed to find the White Rabbit. Sitting there Liddell gathered her thoughts,

What did he mean by a "new Alice?" And what was he saying about a tea party?

Slowly, a throbbing started in her head, and she had to place her hands on her temples to stop the throbbing headache from coming.

Not again. Why now?

In her mind she glimpsed a warm setting, a long table with many people smiling, and laughing. She was there as well as the White Rabbit, and...

Loue...

The throbbing slowly disappeared. Liddell stood up, and gazed at the stars shining brightly overhead.

What was that scene? I wish I could remember clearly. Everyone seemed so happy there, even me...

"Bonsoir, young miss"

Liddell gasped and spun around. She saw a tall man, wearing a black tailcoat, a cane in his hand; a large black top hat, leaned precariously, on his head a card stuck out of the belt around it.

"I did not mean to startle you, young miss." he laughed, bowing over and removing his hat. His wavy red hair eclipsed his face, "I thought you would have noticed me."

Liddell stared at wonder for a second, as recognition dawned on her, "Mad Hatter."

"Ahh, I am grateful that you remember me." Mad Hatter purred, his ruby eyes (with blue make-up surrounding them), twinkled in delight.

"Well you're lucky I remembered you." Liddell mumbled, "So, why are you here?"

Rising from his bow, the Mad Hatter took a step towards Liddell and replied, "I just noticed a little rabbit coming along the path and I had to say 'hi'."

"You said 'hi', so what do you want now?"

"I am wounded. You do not wish to see me?" he asked playfully. He took Liddell's hand and placed a soft kiss onto her hand, "You have grown into a beautiful young woman, young miss."

Blushing deeply, Liddell wrenched her hand from the Mad Hatter's grip, "If you've nothing else to say than I am leaving." She transported herself before the Mad Hatter could reply; completely forgetting about the White Rabbit.

"Au revoir, young miss." Mad Hatter laughed, before he too, disappeared.

The day was done and Liddell was in the library atoning for skipping all of her classes that day. She was told, as punishment, that she had to reorganize all of the books in the library.

Thank God Kitty is here.

Liddell thought, glancing at her friend who was nice of enough to stay with her and help. Not that Liddell would ever admit to needing help with something like this. Facing back to her task Liddell worked methodically as she placed one book after another in their proper places.

"Wahh!"

Liddell heard Kitty cry out followed by the sound of books falling. She looked over and saw Kitty in a heap of books. Trying to not laugh, Liddell used magic to place the books on their proper shelves again. Reaching down Liddell helped Kitty back up onto her feet.

"You better not laugh." Kitty said wiping dust of herself. With this Liddell could not help, but start to giggle at Kitty.

"Hey, how did you knock over the books anyway?"

"I was trying to grab one of the books up there," Kitty grumbled. Using magic, she guided a worn out ancient book off a high shelf, "This was what I wanted."

"What kind of book is it?" Liddell asked, curious to see.

"It's a story book about Queen Alice and the Eld Witch."

"Eld Witch..." whispered Liddell, her heart thumping in her ears.

"Yeah, it's about how Queen Alice sealed away the Eld Witch and saved the princesses," Kitty replied, cheerfully. She grabbed Liddell's hand and dragged her over to a couple of chairs. Seating herself and Liddell, Kitty flipped open the book, "Do you want to hear it?"

"Yes." Liddell answered determined to hear the tale.

Clearing her throat Kitty read the tale:

1,000 years ago...

A tribe of powerful witches

lived beneath our world.

They used potent and

incredibly dangerous rune magic.

One day, the witches invaded

the surface world.

When all seemed lost,

the mystical Alice appeared.

She used the witches' own

rune magic against them and

sealed them away for good.

Rumor has it the witch leader

still lurks beneath the land...

Waiting for her chance to

return to power once again.

Now...the forbidden magic is

a legend that lies only in dusty

books and quiet whispers.

Haine-of-Winter: I had a lot fun writing this chapter. I was between introducing the March Hare and Door Mouse, or introducing the Mad Hatter. Mad Hatter won out.

I'm sorry if the characters seem a little OCish, especially the Mad Hatter. I always imaging him as a sort of "mysterious seduction," kind of person (if that even makes sense).

Well I hope to update soon. See everyone soon!x