Wow! Thank you, guys, for all the wonderful feedback. I'm thrilled that you liked the last chapter so much. I was really worried the choirflies would come off as hokey. 3 You all are awesome. Really.
Something not so awesome? Jack. But we have to deal with him, so here it is. Appropriate for chapter 13, no?
"Hello, Alice," the man's voice was chilly to match his posture, but his eyes were positively frozen - twin chips of glittering ice. He wore a suit similar to the one he'd been wearing the last time she saw him. It seemed so at odds with the three foot length of steel in his hand. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"
Alice's stomach, only a moment ago filled with joyful butterflies, now felt like a lead weight in her gut. In those few precious moments with Hatter, she had forgotten about Jack. Forgotten everything he meant to her. How despicable. Hatter released her arms, turning to face the newcomer. He pulled her behind himself and, even though she knew Jack wasn't a threat to her, she still felt a little twinge of appreciation for his protectiveness.
"I know what you're thinking," Charlie piped up, drawing both their attention. "How could anyone sneak up on me? And in my own manner, too."
He sounded chagrinned, trying to make light of the situation. It took the girl a moment to find him - he wasn't standing near the fire, which was where he should have been, given the closeness of his voice. When she saw him, she gasped in outrage. The old paladin was laying on the ground, hands and feet bound.
"Jack, what the fuck?!" she exclaimed. Not that Alice noticed, but it was the first time she had used such language in front of the man. Hatter took Charlie's incapacitation as proof of Jack's ill intentions. He grabbed a good sized stick from the wood pile beside the fire and hurried forward to square off with the prince.
Jack lifted a superior eyebrow. "You think you can take me on with that?" He motioned towards the stick with his sword.
Hatter wasn't intimidated. "I'm not an old man."
This, of course, was highly insulting to the White Knight. "Oi!"
Alice rushed to diffuse the situation. "Hey!" She inserted herself between the two opponents, knowing neither would make a move with her in harm's way.
"Alice, get out of the way," Hatter ordered, reaching for her.
"I wouldn't do that," Jack threatened the darker man, taking a step forward.
"That's enough!" the girl shouted. She went to Jack, pulling the sword from his hand. He gave it up without protest, always the logical one. Of course, he would understand that Hatter was only trying to protect her and she would be displeased - to say the least - if he, Jack, was to use the weapon against her ally. With the blade in hand, Alice felt assured that neither man would be able to kill the other. She didn't bother to take Hatter's stick, knowing he wouldn't make the first move against Jack unless the blonde gave him good cause. And if Jack was that stupid, he deserved a crack in the head.
"Charlie, are you okay?" She asked, hurrying to the fallen gentleman.
"Of course," he replied, as though he hadn't been tied up. The girl set to unknotting the rope Charlie had been bound with.
"I can't believe you did this, Jack," Alice admonished angrily, not looking up from her task. Finally, she gave up and used the confiscated sword to slice through the bindings.
"Who's your friend?" he asked, completely ignoring her reprimand. She looked up sharply, scowling at the entitled tone of his voice.
"A friend," she stated firmly, meaning that the prince should stop looking at Hatter like he was some kind of kidnapper.
"Yes, you two looked pretty friendly," the blonde said insinuatingly. Alice felt heat rise in her cheeks. Leaving Charlie rubbing his freed wrists, she stood and stalked closer to Jack, crossing her arms in haughty insult.
"You're not actually jealous, are you?" she challenged. As though he had any right after what'd he'd done to her.
"A little," the man confirmed. Alice's teeth ached a little, she was clenching her jaw so tightly.
"Let me get this straight," she began. "The guy who's engaged to a Duchess is worried about me?" He had a Hell of a lot of gall to even dare act like she was the one who should explain her actions - as questionable as they may have been - after the shit he'd pulled.
"You know that was just an act," he protested softly. His voice drew her notice, quietly pleading with her to believe him, but with Hatter and Charlie there his face was as closed off as it had been in his mother's throne room.
"No, I don't," she countered sharply. A thousand other things bubbled inside her, fighting to escape her lips. Alice wanted to demand answers, wanted to tell the man how much he had hurt her, but couldn't. Not with an audience. Not with Hatter standing right there. Instead, she settled for the one question she could ask with the others watching. "What are you doing here, Jack?"
"I've brought you a horse," he stated, motioning off to the west. "Come, we've a long ride."
Hatter was having none of this. He stepped forward again, catching Alice's arm. Did he really think she had any intention of going off with the Prince of Hearts just this moment? "She's not going anywhere with you," he told the blonde, voice hard as iron and filled with anger.
"You know she can't stay here," Jack retorted. Oh, and she really hated it when people spoke about her like she wasn't right there.
"She will be the one who decides where she goes," Alice snapped. She turned to Hatter, laying her hand over his on her arm. "My father, Hatter," she reminded him softly, gently prying his fingers loose. Then, to Jack, she asked, "Is my dad here, in Wonderland?"
"Yes," Jack confirmed. "He's alive and well and, if you let me, I'll take you to him."
Her heart stopped, then started to pound. Not only was he here, not only did Jack know where he was, but he would bring her to him. "Really?"
Seeing he had her trailing his hook, Jack nodded, stepping towards the girl. "But we'd better get going. You don't have much time."
Had she been thinking clearly, Alice would have seen right through his manipulation. As it was, she wasn't; the idea that she could soon be with her long absent, long missed father dominating her mind. She moved away from Hatter and towards the prince as though drawn by a magnet.
"Not much time?" That was a concern. Was her dad in trouble? Well, more trouble that before?
"We're moving him into the city and, if we hurry, you can see him by dawn," Jack said, gently coaxing her towards leaving with him that instant. And it was working.
"We?" She asked, confused. "What do you mean, 'moving him'?" So, Jack had smuggled her father out of the casino? Or was he never in the casino? She'd never even asked where her parent had been all these years, only assumed.
"I have people helping me," the prince assured her.
Never one to stand idly by, Hatter came up behind Alice. "What people?" he demanded. It was something she, herself, should have asked. But the girl was a puppet on a string, she realized, and Jack was the on in control, using her father to dance her across the stage.
The blonde ignored the other man completely, murky green eyes not even flickering away from hers. "Do you want to see him or not?"
Not the gentlest way of putting it, but that was what it boiled down to. Yes or no, Alice? The answer was a no brainer. She nodded. "Yes, of course."
This did not please Hatter. "Don't tell me you trust this guy," he ground out furiously. He had every right to be upset, after all that Alice had told him. He knew about Jack's lies and had made his position on the prince quite clear that day on the beach. But he had to understand, this wasn't about their relationship, it wasn't about forgiving Jack and taking him back as though nothing had happened.
She turned to her friend and tried to make him understand. "He knows where my father is."
"He'll say anything to get his hands on the ring!" His eyes flashed as he, in turn, tried to make her understand. Alice shook her head.
"But he hasn't asked for the ring," she pointed out. He wasn't there trying to get something out of her, he only wanted to help. "He doesn't want the ring. Do you, Jack?" She turned to him for the affirmation that would put Hatter at ease. Prince he may be, but he wasn't trying to weasel away the Resistance's greatest hope for defeating the Queen.
"Yes, I do." She stopped, mouth open, eyes blinking in total bewilderment.
"You do?" The words passed her lips of their own accord. The girl couldn't believe it.
Hatter's hand slapped against his leg as he huffed beside her, his suspicion vindicated completely. "It's just all an act," he proclaimed. Was it? Or did Jack really think Alice would sell out the whole of Wonderland just for the chance to see her father again? That she would just give over the ring if he asked for it?
"We need the ring to get you home," Jack explained. "The Looking Glass won't work without it."
That much was true. Of course. The ex-Tea Shop owner let out a huff of disbelief and disgust, turning away from the prince's line of bull shit. "Oh… right," Alice said quietly. Her stomach sank. She couldn't do it. The chance to see her father was slipping between her fingers like water. There was no way Alice could give up the ring to Jack. Not now, not even for the thing she wanted most in the world.
Hatter took her words as an agreement and was incensed. "Don't be fooled by this, Alice," he beseeched hotly. "He's working for his mother. Blood and water, you remember?"
She didn't believe that. Not that she had any real reason to trust Jack, not after everything, but she didn't believe he would have gone through all this just to get the ring. It was an overly elaborate plan and riddled with holes. Not that it mattered. She wouldn't be handing the Stone over to the man whatever his motivations. The girl just couldn't bring herself to say the words.
"Then, why am I alone?" Jack asked, arguing against Hatter's accusations, but not looking at the man himself. His eyes stayed on hers. "Why aren't there five hundred Suits at my back? And how did I find you here in the middle of the forest; you think I just followed my nose?"
That was a question worth wondering about, make no mistake. Hatter, unable to keep still, as always, stalked close once more.
"How did you find us?" he demanded.
"You sent for me," the blonde snapped, still not deigning to look at his rival. That stopped everything.
"Come again?" Hatter sounded as confused as Alice felt, standing there, mutely bound in Jack's unwavering gaze.
"I'm the agent who's supposed to escort you to Caterpillar."
Honestly, she hadn't been expecting that. It was a little self-centered, really, to automatically think Jack had been acting solely because of herself. Understandable, but a tad narcissistic. She didn't have time to worry about that now.
The girl found her voice, finally. "You know Caterpillar?"
"Very well." Jack's tone had softened again, now that he was no longer defending himself against Hatter's allegations. "Caterpillar recruited me into the Resistance." It would have been the leader of the Resistance himself who tried to bring the Queen of Hearts' own son into the fold. The Prince would be a precious ally, indeed.
Jack turned away, taking a few steps as he spoke. "That's why I took the ring and escaped to your world. It was supposed to trigger a coup. Unfortunately, well, you saw what happened."
She hadn't understood why he would walk away from her until he said those words. Alice saw what happened alright. She had happened. Jack had entrusted her with the ring, the single most important object in his world and she had nearly cost the Resistance everything.
"But if you give us back the ring." His eyes returned to hers as he offered salvation, a chance to make amends for her terrible mistake. "We can give it another try."
"You want to bring down your mother?" Hatter asked, his voice having lost the heat and hard edge at Jack's revelation.
"I've seen what she's done in close up." The prince spoke without looking at the man who'd posed the question, acting as though he was simply explaining for Alice's benefit. "And I know, perhaps better than anyone, if I don't stop her, she'll destroy Wonderland."
So, Jack, her Jack, was working for the Resistance. She didn't have to choose between what she'd dreamed about for more than half her lifetime and what she knew was the right thing - the only thing - to do. It was such a wonderful gift, she had a little trouble coming to terms with it. Hatter had been right, their luck had changed.
"So, who are you going to trust to get you and your father back home?" Jack inquired, moving to stand before her again. "A Resistance insider and future king, who's already scheduled your return trip through the Looking Glass." There was something in the way he said it that rubbed the girl the wrong way. She'd never known Jack to sound so… full of himself.
"Who cares for you more than anyone else in the world." His voice hushed just slightly as he spoke those words and God, she wanted to believe it. The picture perfect man she'd known dancing behind her eyes, offering the world. Alice was about to say yes; yes to everything he offered (her father, her home, her lover) and anything he asked (the ring she would have given up anyway), when he turned to look at Hatter. Contempt curled his upper lip into the subtlest of sneers. "Or this man?"
Her good will evaporated. How dare he? As though Hatter had not risked everything for her and Wonderland both, as though he had any right to judge her friend - prince or no. Her chest tightened with outrage at his conceit, his arrogance.
She could feel the fight go out of the man at her side. Hatter dropped his stick and step aside, his eyes falling away from the other man in defeat. Alice opened her mouth, starting to turn towards him. She wanted to tell him… something, anything.
"Where is the ring, Alice?" Jack ask softly, but pointedly. Of course, he would. Now that he'd won. The girl looked into his eyes.
"I put it where I knew it wouldn't fall into the wrong hands," she said meaningfully. Two birds with one stone. Alice turned to Hatter. He was startled when she gently took the hat from atop his wild locks, his dark eyes filled with question. She turned the battered top hat over and carefully pulled back the fabric where the lining had come loose, retrieving the ring from its hiding place.
Charlie chuckled from where he stood, off to the side of the whole scene. "Under my very nose."
"Well, well," Jack murmured, taking the Stone when she offered it to him. He walked closer to the pit, inspecting the ring in the light of the fire. Precious, a reptilian voice hissed in her mind. The prince did remind her of Gollum just in that moment. An unpleasant thought indeed.
She looked back to Hatter, but his eyes were on his hat in her grasp, brows drawn together just softly. Alice licked her lips, unsure if he was angry with her or not. He took the hat back, his fingers brushing so lightly against hers.
"I wish you all the luck in the world, Alice," he all but whispered.
"You… you're not coming with me?" She couldn't keep the shocked, stung tone from her voice. He was angry, then. He had to understand, she had put the ring there because she knew he would find it, because she wanted him to find it. Because she trusted him.
When he lifted his eyes to hers once more, there was no anger in his gaze. He did understand. But now, she didn't. Could it be he was just glad to be finally rid of her? She wouldn't blame him, after all the damage she'd done. He gave a gentle shake of his head, knowing what she was thinking as surely as if she had spoken the thoughts aloud.
"I don't think I figure in the future king's plans," he explained. Now, it was Alice's turn to shake her head in denial. She looked to Jack seeking his contradiction to that estimation.
"He's coming with us," she said, fully expecting his agreement. She didn't get it.
"Caterpillar was very clear," he explained, putting the ring into an inner coat pocket, patting it to reassure himself it was safely tucked away. "The Resistance will only help you on their terms. You must come alone."
This was the definition of unacceptable. "No."
"No?" All three men had asked the question, in unison, in almost the same disbelieving tone.
"Hatter has lost everything. He risked his life to help me. I'm not just abandoning him," she declared firmly.
"It's for your own safety," Jack assured her reasonably. It was entirely reasonable and entirely not going to happen. "And for your father's."
Her jaw tightened at him using her father as a manipulation device like that. Even if he hadn't meant it that way. "And what if I don't agree to their terms?" she challenged. It would have been weightier if she had not already given over her only bargaining chip. She was only playing on Jack's sense of honor now, on his feelings for her. All the girl could do was pray that was enough.
"Hey," Hatter stepped close, edging his shoulder in front of her to draw her eyes form Jack's. He leaned in, speaking in a softly conspiratorial voice. "I wouldn't want to go with this guy, anyway."
Alice balked. Like that has anything to do with it? "I won't just-"
"Alice, this isn't something you negotiate about," he insisted, his tone and gaze compelling. "You have to do it their way."
You. It was "you" again and she hated it. "But what about you?" the girl demanded tenaciously. She couldn't abide leaving him behind, but he was right. Even if she had anything to bargain with, which she didn't; not anymore.
His eyebrows went up as though her question surprised him. How could he be surprised she was concerned? "Me?" He smiled over her worry, actually smiled and chuckled like she was being silly. The man flipped his hat over in his fingers, placing it smoothly back on his head. "You kiddin'?"
He glanced at Jack like he expected him to share in his humor at her fretting and, when he got no response, he shrugged and looked back to the girl. "I'll be fine."
Fine? He'd be fine? "But-"
"Believe me," Hatter interrupted her gently, his voice losing its jokey lightness. "You're better off with this guy."
How could he say that? How could he believe that, which she could see he did. He honestly thought she would be better off with Jack. "Hatter-"
"Go." It was a single word spoken in a soft, but unquestionable command. He wasn't giving her permission to leave him behind, he was ordering her to go with Jack. To go home. He turned before she could say anything and walked away, knowing if he stayed she would only continue to protest and he wasn't about to let her lose this opportunity.
Alice watched silently as he vanished down one of the paths that led from the clearing. Hatter's main goal in helping her had always been to get her back through the Looking Glass to her own world. He would do what was necessary to achieve that end, regardless of her own wishes, which made him the best kind of friend. She would go, because he told her to. But that didn't mean she had to be happy about it; didn't mean she had to like him for it. He hadn't even given her the chance to say thank you.
I know, I know. I gave some serious thought to changing it and having Hatter and Charlie end up going with Alice and Jack, but in the end I decided agaisnt it. I just couldn't rob Hatter of his big knight in shining armor moment. But at least Alice tried to put up a fight, right? Sorry.