Disclaimer: Don't own anything except original characters. All material (c) to respective owners. I write these for fun and make no profit. They're just random plot bunnies that live within my strange mind.

A/N:

Chapter 7: Seeking Solace

An hour later Alysia was already aching and had just again failed in her sword fight with Mallymunkin's coaching, the change of fighting with Hatter had scared the crap out of her before she realized he was more focused on saving Underland than loathing her. She had not heard a comparison to Alice since the night before after she told him off.

"Did you ever try to fight at all?" Hatter sighed giving her a look that was amused and clearly glad she was on the ground more than beating him.

"Yes, it failed when I was the one losing." She rubbed her aching arm and got to her feet again swinging, she managed one good hit before he changed using his foot and sent her down again. "How is cheating helping me?"

"None of the enemy will fight fair," replied Mallymunkin seeing Alysia stare at the small mouse trying to coach her against the Hatter's far swifter blade, before she encouraged her to get up again. "Especially Stayne," Her low answer only got Alysia an image of someone better facing off with the man she was failing at beating.

"If I'm bruised to a pulp, how will I be useful?" she climbs to her feet trying again, this time she managed to hold her own and listened to both.

"She's getting it." Cheshire observed seeing Hatter pull back and allow Alysia one victory out of many losses.

Hatter smirked devilishly at the cat floating a few feet off to the side, finally that part that she claimed was part of her heritage was showing through. She was not Alice, but he prayed that some of the girl he cared for had moved on down the generations.

"Very good," All hesitated to continue hearing Miranna's reluctant praises, being a woman that vowed against all harm and disliked violence, she had been present in much of it. "I see she is finding her inner muchness finally…very good tutoring Tarrant and you too Mally." Both nodded graciously to Miranna before Alysia lowered her weapon remaining on guard, it would not be the first time Hatter had used her distraction as a teaching weapon.

"I hope you can help me again Miranna, I feel I am going to be very achy after this." Miranna offered her a kind smile seeing Hatter shrug at her look aimed his way.

"It seems a hard lesson, you are holding well." Miranna did not fail to notice Hatter had given into his reluctance and was helping the cause once again. "Perhaps his love for Alice has finally given him strength." She nodded her approval for them to continue before she went off with her court crooning at her every whim.

"Again,"

Groaning Alysia did not guess wrong and caught his blow before he had the chance to try the distracting technique he had before. He saw Mallymunkin gloat at her own coaching before again the pair was battling it out.

Alysia had no strength to eat let alone stand and let Miranna take care of all her new bruises. The queen had commented on how they were lessening after the lessons that morning, afternoon and most of evening. She only nodded at her observation before wincing when she delicately tied off a small wound. She had been so wrapped up in her fight with Hatter she had swung as he did slicing herself on his weapon.

She sighed remembering the startled yellow of his gaze before he ordered Mallymunkin to take care of the wound. He had refused to finish it out after that, telling her to go heal for her lessons the next day. She could have sworn some sort of peace had settled between them for the moment, she was not sure how long it would last and was worried when he had tied off her wound, his eyes looking regretful and his normally brightly colored clothing wilting after their battle.

"Tarrant is frightened." Miranna could see her contemplating her wound in deep thought.

"Why should he be scared Miranna, it was my doing." The queen did not smile only allowed her lip to quirk slightly.

"He got carried away-

"He got distracted by the past and present colliding; he wanted to know if she was ok." Mallymunkin cut off the queen seeing Alysia lift a brow at her explanation.

"Oh for heaven's sake, it wasn't on purpose and I very well may have hurt him too." Alysia grumped trying to pretend Mallymunkin was not laughing at her.

"Not likely." Mallymunkin replied.

"You're better Alysia, but Tarrant is the best and has always been part of my court. He has saved my life many times." Miranna offered noting her offense to Mallymunkin's laughter. "Perhaps you should talk to him, he's walking with the Bandersnatch down at the winding pond in the gardens." She saw Mallymunkin's laughter squelchy before her small ears lifted curiously at Miranna's soft tone.

The queen scooped the mouse up gently in her grasp and shook her head slightly before taking her leave with Mallymunkin in tow. Alysia stood there for a long while after they left before she winced easing her shirt back on and started from her room. She had no idea why Miranna wanted her to go searching for her new tormentor, she just had a feeling deep in her gut that was exactly what she wanted and she should appease the queen for all the help she had offered during her painful training.

A long painful walk later Alysia managed to find the Bandersnatch abandon near a literal winding pond, it turned upward like a corkscrew and remained there. Shaking her head, she moved past the strange thing noting the flowers were singing around her, the trees seemed alive with peaceful sounds as well and it all felt calm to her. The muted colors shown slightly under the moonlight before she gently touched the Bandersnatch on the nose getting a soft growl of appreciation, she then set off on the path the animal seemed focused on and felt him following behind her.