A/N: Enjoyed writing this chapter a lot! I love when Chessur and Tarrant bicker; it's just so fun to write. Chessur is such a tease!
Also I always thought Thackery had a tea fetish. –Laughs wildly-
Team Chessur or Team Tarrant anyone?
On to the sixth installment!
Alice stole another glance at the clock, shaking her head in annoyance. Where was Chessur? She couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh. She was worried about the Cheshire cat's safety, and wanted him back urgently, whether he got Nivens back or not.
She was afraid, poisoned with mistrust by the Hatter's words. What if Tarrant was right? What if Chessur really ran off? Was he as cowardly as the Hatter described him as? Was he not to be trusted too?
Another sigh escaped her lips. She gazed to her right, where the Hatter was slumped against the window, his eyes closed and his mouth in a tight lipped frown. An interesting way to fall asleep though, Alice thought, smiling a bit.
She dusted her dress, which was now torn and dirty. Her father's present for her. Which reminded her…? Lorina! Oh god, what would she do if she knew Alice was missing? Alice bit her upper lip nervously. She could imagine the image of Lorina barging up and down the house screaming 'ALICE! WHERE ARE YOU?'
What if she died here in Underland? A sudden thought appeared in her mind. Alice gripped her knees tightly against her chest, feeling her heart rate increase rapidly. She wasn't sure of how to help Underland at all. Maybe the Caterpillar was wrong this time. She focused her attention to the Hare, her hand now on his crooked ear, gently stroking it.
"This is mad." She murmured, sensing the Hare's ears twitch under her hand.
"We're all mad here." Came a distinctly familiar voice.
"Shut up Tarrant." Alice grumbled, turning to the Hatter. But he remained eyes closed and mouth shut.
"Over here Alice," was the voice, now amused, "I can't believe you mistaken my voice for his."
Alice whipped to her left to see a figure forming near the door. A familiar figure of a bony cat.
She let out a happy yelp of joy and darted off the couch to greet the Cheshire cat. "I thought- I thought…"
"That I would not return?" The cat grinned from ear to ear. Literally.
Alice nodded shyly. "Where's Nivens?" She looked behind Chessur, before looking back at him, a smile on her face, expecting the white rabbit to bound in any second.
Chessur went stiff. His face going quite solemn.
Alice froze, her brows furrowed. "Chessur…" She began, but the cat's face went from solemn to downright fury and she was speechless at the hatred written on his face. A shuffle of movement behind Alice made her realize why.
"Ah, you're back, Chessur." Tarrant's voice was soft and calculative. "I'm amazed to actually see you back…" Alice could picture, without looking back that the Hatter was smirking devilishly.
"In one piece." He added, sounding indifferent.
The Cheshire cat's mouth twitched, his sea-green eyes now narrowed and he glared coldly at the Hatter.
"If it concerns you, Tarrant," He spat, "I'd like to know why you're amazed." His words heavy with irony.
Alice whipped around to see Tarrant smiling icily, his green eyes twinkling.
"I'm just ever so curious, Chessur," He smirked, lifting his chin haughtily. "Considering the countless occasions when you deserted your ah- friends in times of danger, oh yes, I am terribly amazed that you'd return."
Alice, sensing the growing animosity, let out a loud cough, "Chessur, where is Nivens?"She inquired, looking at the cat.
Her voice seemed to snap them back into reality. Chessur shook his head slowly. "He's been captured." He mumbled, before muttering something else incoherent.
Alice looked at him, bewildered. "What?" she asked meekly.
"What Chessur is trying to say," Tarrant stepped in beside Alice, a wicked grin on his cold pale face, "Is that he left Nivens to be captured, didn't you?" He looked like a little boy who had just found a secret storage of candy and was dying to eat it.
A mischievous twinkle in his eyes appeared, "Oh, what a glorious thing to have, Chessur, your little fancy evaporating powers! Poor Niv-"
"Shut it, Hatter!" Alice cut him, furious, "Can you two stop bickering at the moment? I need to know what happened to Nivens!" Her blue eyes bright with anger and she faced Chessur expectantly.
"Oh right… Nivens," He looked weary, "He got captured by the red card soldiers. I travelled near to the edge of the forest when I found Nivens." A dazed look appeared on his face, "And we were ambushed on our way back. Nivens got caught and I – I - …" There was a pause.
"You ran off, what else?" The Hatter added in gleefully.
"I couldn't save him! There were too many of them! And if I did not return, what would become of you?" Chessur blurted out, looking pleading at Alice and rather stern at the same time, flicking his gaze to the Hatter then back to Alice.
"Hey, hold on! What's that supposed to mean?" The Hatter was ignored.
"Oh Chessur," Alice sighed, taking his paw, "I don't blame you." ("Oh that's a shock." The hatter mumbled)
"Where have they taken Nivens? I'll go and save him." She asked kindly.
"The white queen's old headquarters. They're using the palace as a prison." Chessur gulped before glaring at the Hatter, "He of all people should know."
Alice turned to the Hatter, "Tarrant," She spoke to the smirking man, "Are there any allies we can count on there?"
The Hatter feigned deafness and began looking about with a fake air of innocence.
"HATTER!" Alice growled, losing her patience.
"Perhaps… a few creatures, I don't know, don't ask me! I'm not to be trusted!" Tarrant frowned playfully, the mischievous twinkle still in his eyes.
Chessur let out a hiss, staring daggers at the mad hatter.
Alice punched him lightly on the shoulder and he flinched. "What was that for?" Tarrant looked innocently at her.
"I take it as there are people they were can gather into our army." She frowned at him, before looking pointedly at Chessur.
"Okay. We set for the white queen's castle at dawn." The cat announced, nodding politely at Alice, and sounding more like the old cryptic cat.
She smiled at him, before punching the Hatter lightly again.
"Watch it!" came the cold growl, "I can always kill you."
"Likewise." Chessur growled at him, his cat face in a tight scowl.
There was a long pause before they turned and walked away from each other, a angry look on each face. Tarrant positioned himself near the window again, muttering to himself whilst the cat curled beside the Hare.
Alice wasn't tired. She felt a knot in her chest. The hatter was right. The cat had run away from danger. He ran away from Nivens.
'but he came back for you!' said a voice in her head.
She slumped down on the couch and forced herself to close her eyes.
They awoke at dawn. Alice found herself in a dreamless sleep, before waking up to the sound of an angry March Hare.
"What do you mean no tea for breakfast?" He hollered at Chessur, who rolled his eyes. "Where are my daily dose of sugar cubes?" He slapped a furry paw to his thigh.
The Hatter who was standing beside him gave a small smirk, "Perhaps you ought to stop thinking about tea at a moment Thackery." He dusted his jacket and his gaze lingered on Alice, who frowned at him.
"Where to Chessur?" She asked the floating feline at the door.
"We head towards the North woods, nearer to the queen's castle. We can sneak in through the back gate." Chessur purred back, his tail lashing as he gave orders.
"Could I suggest something?" The Hatter spoke up suddenly.
When nobody replied him, he continued.
"That we go east instead. It's a much faster route."
"Are you mad?" Chessur snarled coldly, whipping to glare at him and lifting an unsheathed paw, pointing at the Hatter. "If we go east, we'll have to enter by the front gate."
"Yes indeed." Rumbled the happy Tarrant, smiling naively.
He narrowed his eyes. "The front gate is where all the guards stand post! We're not stupid you lying despicable, piece of – "
"Yes, yes we all know. I'm mad and distrustful. And the fact that you hate me." The Hatter cut in, sounding annoyed.
"Alice?" He rounded on the girl, "How about you decide?"
Alice blinked, nonplussed.
"Of course we go by the back gate!" She crossed her arms. "We're not stupid." She looked encouragingly at the Cheshire cat, who grinned.
"And that's score one for Chess and zero for Tarrant!" The Hare announced, clearly forgotten about his tea.
The Hatter gave a frown, "You're just saying that cause you don't believe me!" he sounded irritated. "I know the palace, Alice." He looked gently at her now, moving closer, a smile on his face. "I know what places the guards cover. I know things that –" He glared at Chessur, "old fluffy here doesn't."
He grabbed Alice's hands, and she shivered at the coldness. "If you follow Chessur, you'll encounter more guards," he was whispering now, inching closer to Alice. "Listen to me," His eyes were filled with sincerity, "I'll show you, you can trust me, just give me a chance."
He was so very close to Alice now, and she trembled at the close proximity. Her cheeks went an awfully obvious shade of red. "Please." He beseeched, bumping his pointed nose on her cheek. She gazed at his bright green eyes and her eyes slowly trailed down to his lips. 'I wonder if…'
There was a low dangerous growl from behind that broke her train of thoughts. Who ever knew Chessur could sound so animal-ish.
Alice shrank away, pulling her hand from the Hatter's grip, her mind buzzing. What was she thinking? She shook her head. Should she give Tarrant a chance? She glanced at him, and he cocked his head, looking like a kicked puppy. As much as she wanted to trust him, she couldn't. She looked soberly at Tarrant, his face falling flat slightly.
"Sorry Tarrant," she managed to say, trying to sound as gentle as she could.
"We're going with Chessur's route."
The Hatter's face darkened miserably. "Fine." He spat, looking furious. "Follow old mister tubby and get killed, whatever."
With that, the foursome moved out.