Although I knew that we had lost
The hope and glory of our life;
And now, benighted, tempest-tossed,
Must bear alone the weary strife.
~ On the Death of Anne Bronte by Charlotte Bronte
Lily sat in her usual chair when she came over to watch Tarrant work. A cup of tea was in her hands, keeping them warm since it was a bit chilly outside today. The grand Leaf-Turning Festival that the Hightopp Clan held every year was fast approaching, and the only way Lily ever saw Tarrant nowadays was if she came to visit him while he worked.
He was currently making the grand masterpiece for the clan's chief. So focused on his task, the hatter didn't notice his little friend's worry and silence.
Lily took a sip of the tea, loving the apple-like taste and wondered if Thackery had been in the mood for fall flavors and colors today. The hare usually made the delightful treats, especially because Tarrant would try to put the tea-time delicacies on a hat instead of a table in the state of distraction he was in.
She sighed as she thought once more of the talking flowers and what she had heard whispered in the gardens. Mother and Father had also seemed worried, but determined to keep their concerns from their daughter.
This latest sigh did alert Tarrant, finally. He turned to look at her with concern swimming with gold flecks in his emerald eyes. Now that he thought of it, Lily wasn't asking him a million questions about the hat he was working on or any of the hats currently on display. She wasn't pestering him either about her hat, which was incredibly unusual. Setting down the buttons and such that he was playing with, Tarrant walked over to her and sat in the chair beside her.
He propped his chin on his hand and tilted his head questioningly.
Lily still didn't speak, her eyes glued to her cup, eyebrows dipped in concern.
"Lily?" He prompted his eleven year old friend. "What seems to be the matter?"
"Nothing," she murmured, wincing at her own lie. Before allowing Tarrant time to call her on the lie, she answered, "Just something the flowers said, and I know how much they like to gossip - and I shouldn't listen to everything they say."
"That's right," Tarrant encouraged with a kind smile. "As the Earwickett family says, take everything you hear with a grain of pepper!"
She smiled half-heartedly at the familiar saying, but the smile faded away again. The hatter's smile also disappeared. For a man who had so many siblings growing up, the twenty-three year old man still couldn't understand the varying mood swings of girls and women - especially when said woman wasn't a Hightopp and didn't have eyes that changed color with her mood.
"It's just," Lily began again, "I'm worried. What if it isn't gossip this time? I mean," she looked up at Tarrant with fear-filled eyes, "the flowers in our gardens have roots in Aunt Racie's gardens!"
Tarrant reeled back at the revelation and blinked in surprise. "What - do you know?"
Lily twisted the cup in her hands until the hatter took it from her for fear she would spill the amber liquid on her white dress. Without the cup to worry in her hands, Lily began twisting the ribbons on her dress instead.
"Aunt Racie is getting really mad - madder than normal. Not the kind of angry mad, because she's that too, but - mad mad. I think," she stammered silent and looked up at Tarrant, her brown eyes shimmering with tears. "I think she killed Uncle Sushila!"
The first sob hiccupped out of her before she could hold it back. Next thing she knew, she was in Tarrant's comforting arms like he had done when she was very small and started to cry. She would normally feel very embarrassed to be crying in front of Tarrant when she was nearly twelve years old, but after all the tense goings-on and the whispered rumors from the flowers - she just wanted to comfort her dear friend could offer.
Tarrant rocked her back and forth and stroked her curly, blond hair. His green eyes were now swimming between yellow concern and blue sadness for his little friend. He too had heard the rumors of Iracebeth's descent into madness. Her dissatisfaction with her place in the court had been a long known fact. Everyone knew that Iracebeth did not approve of her late parents' decision to give the throne to Mirana - the youngest instead of the eldest. What most people didn't know, that Tarrant did because he was often ignored by those gossiping courtiers and flowers, was the fact that Iracebeth's - well - head was the cause of her madness.
Her parents had known early on that she would be unsuitable for the throne. It was an ancient problem that rose up every so often - people with large heads were prone to violent fits of madness. A monarch with a head the size of Iracebeth's would have been very bad for Underland.
The news of Sushila's death had spread like wild-fire. He had truly loved Iracebeth and tried very hard to control her madness, but something had happened recently. Something that had made her snap. Sushila was beheaded and no matter what Mirana and Sudhir did, they could not get into Salezen Grum to find out what happened. Iracebeth wouldn't allow any messengers into her lands. How she was enforcing the border was unknown.
Tarrant hugged Lily as he sighed inwardly. Lily shouldn't be exposed to all of this. She shouldn't know about such horrible things when she was still so young - so innocent. "Oh, Lily girl," he murmured sadly.
"It's true?" She questioned as she looked up at him. "Did she really kill Uncle Sushila?"
"I'm afraid so," Tarrant admitted with a nod.
"Is it true she'll come after Mum? And Dad?" Lily asked fearfully. "Will there really be a war?"
The hatter wished he knew the answer, he really did. "I don't know, Lily. But remember what I told you? About your mum being so very strong and able to keep peace? You mustn't doubt your mum."
"I know, but," Lily said, "what if Aunt Racie is stronger?"
"You know that isn't true," Tarrant informed her. "Please don't worry, Lily girl. All will be all right." He smiled encouragingly at her and produced one of his oddly colored handkerchiefs to dab her face with. He allowed her to take it from him and blow her nose.
"I don't know if I can stop worrying," Lily admitted sadly. "I don't want anyone else to get hurt."
"I know, Lily," the hatter agreed as he hugged her one more time. "But just trust your Mum." She nodded, but Tarrant could tell she wasn't entirely convinced. Wanting to cheer her up again, Tarrant eased her off his lap and took her hand. "Come on, let me show you some of my projects!"
Lily looked at the top hat that would belong to the chief of the Hightopp Clan. It was a very fine hat. A lovely deerskin brown with a wide, red ribbon wrapped around the hat, tied into a firm bow at the back. A peacock feather was stuck in at one place. A brass pin with the Hightopp Clan's symbol engraved into a round circle was stuck in another place. A hat pin with a sapphire crystal on the top was beside the other pin. And yet another pin with amber colored crystals on the top. Lastly, a pin with a golden tassel - like a tassel from a pillow or curtain cord - was stuck into the hat.
She stroked the soft, velvet top hat and smiled. "I think you should keep this one, Tarrant," she declared.
"Oh, but I can't!" he protested. "It must go to the chief. It's my finest work yet, you know."
"But you deserve an amazing top hat, Tarrant!" Lily protested. "You haven't made your Hightopp master hat for yourself yet!"
"Someday, Lily girl," Tarrant assured her as he fluffed the ribbon once more. "Someday."
~ { *
The festivities were in full swing. Hightopp children ran around a pole with ribbons tied to it, wrapping the colorful strands around the white pole. Music was being played from a gazebo bedecked with more ribbons and some seasonal flowers. Long tables covered with multi-colored clothes held various dishes of food and bowls of punch. Tea flowed freely.
Some people were dancing a reel, while others were showing off their works to the mayor in hopes of winning a prize. The jovial man inspected each quilt, pie, hat, shoe, and coat that was produced to him. Many complimented him on the fine hat he wore and praised the hatter who made it.
Tarrant, however, was not present to hear the compliments. He was currently standing beside Mirana's pure white horse and conversing with Sudhir. The king had opted to dismount and was currently musing with the younger man the possibility of entering one of the various Hightopp games.
Lily was playing at the colorful pole with other Hightopp children. When the tune for the futterwhacken began to play, she and the other children ran to the dance circle.
The adults watched from where they stood, Tarrant clapped along to the song. A smile broke out over his face, he was very pleased to see that Lily was enjoying herself and no longer worrying about the flowers or Iracebeth.
Lily laughed joyously as she spun out of the formation and would have run to retrieve Tarrant for the dance, but she stopped and watched in wide-eyed horror at the dark thing that was breaking through the clouds. The thing opened its scaly mouth and from deep within the cavernous mouth of the creature, fire bubbled up like lava. In a blink the fire flew in a stream of deadly heat and demolished a house on the other side of the Hightopp village.
People were screaming and running.
Lily tumbled to her hands and knees and tried to spy her mother's white horse in the chaos. She couldn't see her mother or her father! All she saw was fire and Hightopps falling in agony - screaming as the fire consumed them. Tears stung her eyes - too frightened and horrified to look away from the sickening sights.
"T-t-t-ta-Tarrant!" She wept and coughed. He would come for her. In this smoky, fiery nightmare he would find her. He always found her when she was lost or when she ran away. Tarrant would find her and make everything right again. This horrible thing couldn't be happening.
"Tarrant!" Lily shouted.
Strong arms scooped her up. She clung to the person's neck and pressed her face, finally able to shut her eyes, into the curly red-orange hair. Lily sobbed as she felt herself being jostled in the arms of the running person. The familiar smell of tea, leather, and hats being cured assured her that Tarrant was her rescuer. She tightened her grip, grateful that Tarrant had found her.
His steps slowed until he stopped. He was shaking and clinging to her just as tightly as she was clinging to him.
"Lily!" The princess looked up to see her parents rushing toward her. Mirana reached them first and hugged the pair.
"We must get back to the castle," Sudhir reminded his wife as his gaze searched the woods. "It isn't safe here."
"Yes," Mirana acknowledged. "Lily, you must ride with me."
"Tarrant?" Lily asked, unwilling to release him.
With one final squeeze, he set her down on her feet. Without looking at her, Tarrant said, "I must go back and see what I can do."
Sudhir placed a cautionary hand on the hatter's arm. "Tarrant, that was a Jabberwocky. There isn't much you can do."
Tarrant's green eyes flashed red. Without a word, he shook off the king's hand and broke into a run back toward the Hightopp village.
"Tarrant!" Lily shouted after him. She would have followed had it not been for her parents. Even as she was hoisted onto her mother's horse, the girl kept shouting after him, tears flowing freely. "Tarrant!"
~ { *
Lily stood in the shadows of the council hall. Mirana sat in her large, white throne with Sudhir standing beside her. Courtiers were speaking all at once, wondering what had happened and where the Jabberwocky had come from.
"Where is Chessur?" Mirana questioned. "He should have come. And has there been any news of what's become of the Hightopps?"
The large doors opened and in strode two soldier on either side of a bedraggled looking Tarrant. Lily's heart soared to see him, but didn't dare reveal her presence. She wasn't supposed to be here, but she knew this would be the place to be to hear any news.
Mirana stood from her seat. "Tarrant?"
His head and gaze were downcast as he held a blackened top hat in his hands. Lily stifled the gasp in her mouth. That was the hat Tarrant had made for the mayor! Why did Tarrant have it?
"I am -" he stammered in an unusually high-voice, "I am -" Tarrant silenced as he turned the hat in his hands. He lifted his head and set the hat on his curly hair. Lily wished she could see his face, but the look on her parents' faces made her certain that her friend was absolutely miserable.
In a quiet voice he said, "I am the last - Hightopp."
Without another word, he turned on his heels and strode out of the room again.
Not caring if her parents saw her, Lily ran after him. She called out to him, but he didn't stop or give any indication that he had heard her. Lily caught up to the slow-trudging hatter and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him from behind.
He didn't turn to return her hug. He didn't lift a hand to touch her. Didn't say anything for several long moments.
"Tarrant," Lily said, hoping to get him to speak.
"Lit me gang, Lily," Tarrant murmured.
Lily shook her head, rubbing her tears into the smoky-scented suit coat he wore. "I don't want you to be sad, Tarrant! Not by yourself! You never let me be sad by myself!"
He lifted his arms to place his hands on her thin arms. Lily started to cry in earnest when he pried her arms from him. Tarrant pushed her gently away before saying, "Lae me aloyn." The hatter strode on down the hallway, leaving the princess watching him leave.
A gentle hand rested on Lily's shoulder, causing the girl to look up into the saddened face of her mother. The mother and daughter hugged, the one trying to comfort the other. Mirana looked on after the hatter as she stroked her daughter's sunshine curls.
"There are some things," Mirana spoke quietly, "that one must bear alone."
"But he doesn't have to!" Lily protested. "I won't let him!"
"Give him time, my sweet," Mirana instructed. "Just give him time."
Author's Note: :( Poor Tarrant.