Wow! I've gotten this chapter up quick! And sorry if its a bit long, but, well, I kind of like them that way....(please don't throw things at me – dives under a fort)
hey-and thank you again for your awesome reviews – you wont believe how much they really do push me on. I'll give individual thank-yous at the bottom – cause I just need to spread the love and tell y'all how brilliant you guys are (sniffs at all the love)
I think this is one of my favorite chapters yet, so I hope you guys like it too!
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The Hare had been twitching nervously for the past hour, wondering what could be holding his two friends up for so long. True, it was not unusual for the Hatter to be late for anything – he was always getting either distracted, undecided, grumpy or lost – but for Alice to be missing such a long time as well was unheard of. Once again, he wished he had accompanied them on this rather daring expedition, though secretly glad whatever may have eaten them on their adventure had not touched himself. He drew out a somewhat grateful sigh, his left eye twitching neurotically. Anxious glances were continually thrown at the clock (that did not tell time) then back to the woman sitting in his lounge room like he was watching a tennis match. The woman was staring out at nothing, waiting impatiently for the same pair as he. Clock. Woman. Clock. Woman. Clock. Woman. Clock. Woman:
She was magnificent, well, she would have been, if she had not been so truly terrifying to the Hare. Her long robes were made of velvet, and seemed to shimmer in any position she found herself in, whether it be a dark corner or blinding sunlight. She sat on the couch – which was shabby in comparison to the woman who adorned it – with her back ram-rod straight, never flinching, never twitching – a stark comparison to the man (or rather animal) who owned the house. She faced away from the Hare at all times, her eyes never quite seeing what was in front of her, yet taking in every detail there was to be found. She did not belong in the room, in the house; in this part of the kingdom. She belongs in the castle, the Hare thought to himself, doing all those castle-y things...
Victoria herself was growing quite concerned over the missing pair. Not in the way that she may be worried for their welfare, but in the sense she had so much left to do, and could not bare being held up like this. Several scenarios filtered through her mind as entertainment to pass the idle minutes – all of which ended in her leaving this dreadful house rather abruptly, or finally finding the opportunity to conquer the kingdom once and for all. Whichever way the scenario ended, a small smile spread at the corners of her dark red lips. The smile vanished immediately, though, upon remembering where she was, and why. Not only was the state of the house she was waiting in a complete mess, but she had important meetings and people she must attend to later this day. It was a rare thing – for Victoria to go into common territory to seek someone out – even if it was the notorious Alice. She bit back a blood-thirsty sigh as Alice's face drifted into her thoughts, ignoring at the same time the Hare's bizarre twitching.
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Oblivious to the party waiting to greet them back where they belonged, the Hatter and Alice trekked along the path in silence, avoiding any physical contact or conversation, each one lost in their own thoughts. Conversation had been attempted, though it ended rather abruptly the first time they tried, from either Alice being too embarrassed or the Hatter being too straight-forward. Either way, they did not try again. So they resorted to trekking their way in pensive silence, tripping every now and again over the bushy earth, the other too self-conscious or frightened to help the other one up should they happen to take a particularly nasty fall. So Alice, a little too gratefully, was left to nurse her own thoughts.
Her thoughts, if anyone should care to know, where filled with problems and questions she was not accustomed to dealing with. Not that she had much experience with Queen-hating-her problems or Why-are-they-trying-to-kill-me questions, though in a sense they were far easier to deal with to Alice. Matters of romance and the like, were virtually uncharted territory for Alice.
True, she was engaged, and you would think she would be able to deal with the sentiments spelled out earlier a little more confidently, but it was not the case. She found herself nervous (for an understatement), perplexed, horrendously embarrassed, a little mystified and thoroughly confused when it came to her 'Hatter' situation. Time and time again she would catch herself risking a glance up at the Hatter (who strolled remarkably confidently at her side) and blush profusely. Stop it, she shouted to herself in her head, deal with this rationally. She tried very, very, very hard to remember what 'rational' actually was.
And then she would blink, stopping on the path for a split second, and realize she should not even be thinking about it the way she was. What a fool she had been to actually blush whenever the Hatter's eyes would seek out hers! What he said wasn't even true, she told herself with new-found confidence. Unconsciously, she raised her head up a little higher, blush fading a little from her cheeks. The thought made her so much more comfortable. So stop acting like a fool, and he will forget about the whole silly idea in time. Why, Alice even believed he had probably forgotten about the whole random outburst already, by the way he was whistling so cheerfully and care-free. There now, she smiled to herself, it's all over.
"In time, Alice, you will see," the Hatter's intimate, yet cheerful whisper came to her ear unexpectedly.
Alice sighed to herself, there goes that idea, she thought grudgingly.
On the flip side of the coin, the Hatter's thoughts were relatively cheerful. He had convinced Alice into his terms, he had managed to keep her in Wonderland for a secured amount of time, Alice was still alive after their ghastly encounter, and the mud on the bottom of his shoes had removed itself for him. Yes, from his point of view, life was working out pretty darn swell. He beamed to himself as he remembered another blessing; And Hare has restocked on the green tea. Yes; life was definitely working out to his advantage.
Only one thing did bother him (apart from the fact the girl he loved was being hunted down, and himself, too, for that matter); perhaps what Alice had said to him was true. He may have succeeded in making her stay, but he had not secured anything. Not yet. And what did she mean; he did not love her? Of course he loved her! She was beautiful, young, made an exceptionally good pot of tea, and was, well, Alice. But that was it really, he loved the fact she was Alice. Why couldn't she see that? What else was there to be expected of him? He angrily kicked up some dirt with the toe of his shoe, then cursing himself as it stuck itself there.
"And just when I thought I could have gotten rid of you," he told it.
"Excuse me?" Alice twirled around in shock.
"Not you," Hatter murmured somewhat sheepishly.
Apart from all that, the Hatter saw it all working out rather swell. The Alice in his mind was not so far off as everyone else seemed to think she was. They're all blind, he thought to himself confidently, it'll be a piece of cake.
Alice just sighed to herself, wishing to be anywhere but here.
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Hare was the first to hear the sound of their approaching footsteps. He wasted no time in making Victoria aware of the fact, and joyously related the good news.
"They're back! They're back!" He cried, jumping on the spot as he did so.
"Really," Victoria replied, more of a statement than a question. Her tone was disinterested, but her eyes shone with the thought of making it to the conference she had next half an hour early. She allowed herself a small smile, and no more.
A nervous Alice and victorious Hatter were practically dragged across the threshold, being rained upon by a series of complicated explanations as to their guest waiting in the next room. Alice had to cut him off.
"Who is it, though?" She asked, praying it would bring him straight to the point.
"The Queen," he responded innocently. The Hatter and Alice both stared at him in shock. Before their expressions could turn from confusion to excitement, the Hare corrected his statement, seeing it had been misapplied.
"No, no, no - I mean...the Queen Lady. You know...the Queen Queen. Not the Queen. Uh – what's her name?"
Their faces fell instantly. "Victoria," the Hatter flatly supplied the name.
"That's the one...'Viccy'," Hare winked at them in good humor.
At this the Hatter shook his head quickly, "no, no – you can't call her 'Viccy.' You call her Victoria when she's not standing in as the Queen."
"But I want to call her Viccy," the Hare pouted defiantly, then turned to address Alice in a sulking tone, "why can't I call her Viccy?"
Alice put a firm hand on his furry shoulder, her tone disapproving. "Because it isn't proper to give people like her such informal nicknames."
"Aww," he whined, "but I want to call her Viccy!"
"No," Hatter was definite.
"Victo?" Hare suggested innocently.
"No."
"Victo-to?"
"No."
"Vic-mister?"
"No!"
"The Vic-anator!"
"No!!"
"VIC-ARINA!" The Hare was particularly excited about this one.
"NOOO!!"
This final refusal came shrieking from Victoria herself, who was now standing in the doorway, having heard their entire discussion. Her eyes were seething with irritation as she addressed the three of them collectively. "I . HATE . NICKNAMES – YOU WILL NEVER CALL ME ANYTHING BUT 'MISS VICTORIA' OR 'YOUR MAJESTY' – DO . YOU . UNDERSTAND ME?!"
The three fell silent, paralyzed by such an impressive outburst of rage, most of all, over nicknames. They each waited for the other to speak. Eventually the role was passed to Alice, who found herself being stared at expectantly, as if it were her role to perform the ceremony.
"Uh," she bit her lip, raking her brain to find something respectable and proper to say after such an outburst, "we – we meant no disrespect, your majesty. Uh – we, uh – uh.....may I ask why you are here Miss Victoria?" The question popped out of her mouth quicker than she had anticipated.
The question seemed to remind Victoria herself, and her eyes quickly lit up with awareness as she resumed her collected stance and began to summon them to the couch as if nothing had happened. Once all were seated rather uncomfortably, Victoria spoke in a solemn voice; obviously the subject of her speech grieved her.
"The reason I came here today was to inform you of some troubling news I have just learnt myself from a very reliable source," Victoria looked at them expectantly, as if they were already meant to understand after being given so little information, "The Queen, of course, you must have realized, is the subject of this grave news-"
"Is she dead?" Alice gasped, who couldn't help butting in.
"Unfortunately no," came Victoria's grave reply, "I just learnt this morning from...well, like I said – a reliable source, who works in the – uh, laboratory of the castle, that it has been discovered that the Queen, while working on the creation of this horrible disease, also managed to create a, uh...potion that enables one to change to whichever form they choose. One cannot doubt that this miraculous potion was intended to be added to the disease – to make it stronger, and the cats it created with the very same ability. Well, as you must have assumed, as soon as she went missing all those years ago, I ordered for that horrible laboratory to be closed down, and be guarded by ten – no, twenty guards and those terrible cats, the laboratory which, of course, also contained that potion. Well, I have just learnt that that potion is missing, and has been for some time. No other but the Queen is the culprit, so I felt I must deliver this news to you personally, so you may be on your guard. Uh – I have heard rumors that you, Alice, are the one she is after. I felt compelled to tell you, Alice. I know this must be a grave complication to you."
"Indeed it is!" Cried Alice, taken aback by her knowledge that seemed already widely-known.
Victoria smiled at her eagerness, and took the opportunity while it would be most likely to be accepted. Besides, time was running short; the sooner the girl was out of the way the better.
"You know Alice," she began innocently, "it grieves me to see you driven about by that half-crazed old woman – and I mean that with all due respect to the Queen, of course – may I persuade you to take up residence in the palace walls? I shouldn't imagine that this house – or these companions – could provide you with the protection you will be needing at this time! Come back with me to the castle – even if just for a little while – and I will have guards protect you day and night, and set you up with a very comfortable room. Come now, I insist." She smiled reassuringly once again.
"Well! That is kind-" Alice beamed at her. Perhaps this may not end so bad, after all. And an opportunity to get away from the Hatter! It seemed an opportunity too good to be true!
"-But unfortunately Alice cannot accept," the Hatter cut in hastily. He set a firm hand on top of Alice's, which had been resting on the armchair, as if his touch would be enough to keep her from getting up and following the woman out of the house.
"What?" Alice turned to him in a harsh whisper.
"We have ample security for Alice here, thank you very much. Your assistance will not be necessary. Thank you though, for the kind offer," he told Victoria coldly, never taking his hand of Alice's, or letting his eyes leave Victoria's.
Hmm. The Hatter would be a problem, Victoria suddenly realized. Whatever reason was preventing him from letting Alice go was not important, yet she wondered if the reason could be perhaps used to her advantage...She forced out a smile for them all, debating whether she should just be-rid of them all right there and then or wait for another opportunity. Wait, she amended in her head, there is still time. "Till next time then," she waved at them coolly, before leaving the room, then the house.
Alice was still glaring at the Hatter. "What was that for?" She demanded.
Hatter merely glanced at Alice, his hand still firm against her own, "that was for your own good," he informed her.
"Okay," she shook his hand off hers angrily, "so you do want to get rid of me! Did you miss something there? She was offering me protection! Protection!"
Hatter shook his head, still ignoring her cutting glare. "The only thing she was offering you, Alice, was...well, I don't quite know...but it certainly wasn't protection."
Alice rolled her eyes, exasperated. "You have no idea what you're talking about, do you?!"
"You mean to tell me you actually trust that woman? You trust her?"
Alice hesitated. It was true, there was never something quite right about that woman, although, like the Hatter, she could never quite pinpoint what that something was. Her hesitation was enough for the Hatter to be an affirmative.
"Well, I'm glad to know you at least have instincts. We're getting somewhere," he sighed, shaking his head, "honestly, Alice, you really need to wisen up."
"Is that another one of you plans for the next five days?" She glared at him, secretly hoping her words may have reached a weak spot.
"Sure is," he replied cheerfully. Perhaps he would have said more if Alice had not have given him a death glare, clearly wishing for the subject to be closed.
"All in good time," he murmured to himself, "she just needs more time."
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Victoria had her back faced to the army. They were gathered in a small room underground the castle. One could marvel at the amount of cats and men were able to fit into the room, though they were squashed up together. They didn't mind, though, all they wanted to hear was Victoria's orders. Then they would be permitted to take life; then their blood lust would be quenched. Usually the room with it's blue stone walls would have been a comfort to Victoria. Not today. No, today she was restless, unable to keep herself from pacing as she snarled at the ground. Finally, she turned to face her followers, addressing them in a loud, clear voice:
"My friends, these are hard time, you would no doubt agree," a murmur of agreement accompanied this comment from the crowd, "but – if we proceed further as planned, then perhaps our luck will change."
At this a solitary soldier stepped forward and bowed down gracefully in front of his Queen. His voice was timid, but curious without a doubt. "My Queen, what will we do now that the Queen of hearts has taken advantage of the potion?"
Veronica stared at the man, who cowered slightly under her unmoving eyes. As if finally deciding the course of action, she addressed the audience once again, this time her voice confident and fiery, leaving her words ringing through the ears of everyone present.
"Kill the Queen of Hearts!" She shouted at them.
The crowd was in an uproar – they waisted no time in fulfilling their Queen's demand, and already many of them were galloping out of the room, prepared to face death itself just to claim to opportunity of bringing the former Queen to her knees. No one questioned it, and no one opposed – no hero urged them to come to their senses and begin a rebellion – no, Victoria watched with satisfaction as her blind followers stumbled over themselves with victory cries. As she watched, she mulled spurring words into their ears, like honey to their minds as they raced out.
"Find her. Hunt her. Kill her. I don't care how you do it, or who must die in order for it to be done. Be reckless – be ruthless, I don't care. As long as it is accomplished. Just remember, Victoria is Victory! Victoria is Victory!" She repeated into their ears – into their hearts. It was her chant, her life.
"Victoria means Victory! Victoria is Victory!" They chanted back at her in unison again and again, an army of parrots mimicking her every word and action as they filed out of the room. Five left, four left, three left, two left, one left...And then she was alone again.
And it was only then she could smile to herself at her success.
Unexpectedly, the same solitary soldier came back into the room, bowing as he did so, and never quite straightening up. His voice still held the awe and esteem that was so common in her followers, and as he spoke, he must have never felt worthy enough to look his Queen in the eye. His words were apprehensive; hungry.
"And my Queen, when will we be able to kill the girl? When will you grant us Alice's life?" His eyes shone with wanting.
Victoria smiled at him warmly, taking a particular liking to this one. "My friend, if you find and then kill the Queen – alone or with others – I will let you be the one to claim her life."
The soldier relaxed. "Thank you, my Queen," he purred, satisfied.
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"This is bad," the Hare established for the seventh time.
Hatter and Alice looked at each other and sighed. The news itself was bad enough, but having the fact reiterated constantly was even worse.
"Yes," Alice told him severely, "we know that."
"She could be anyone now," Hare pointed out bleakly.
"Yes," sighed the Mad Hatter, "we know that, too. And have known it for the past hour."
"Absolutely anyone," the Hare continued, still lost in his bleakness, "I mean it could even be me. Or you. Or Alice. She could even be a tree," then the Hare gasped, a possibility hitting him most acutely, "she could even be my tea. I have just drunk my tea. Oh God! I've drunk the Queen!" He moaned while rubbing his belly.
"Stop it, Hare – you haven't drunk anyone," Alice told him.
"Yet," he continued to moan.
"This is ridiculous," Hatter sat up from the table, leaving his dinner untouched, "how is one meant to get anywhere without the possibility of death or tea following them?! I'm leaving!" With a huff he left the room.
"Where are you going?" Alice called out after him.
"Away," he said from over his shoulder, agitated at the way his perfectly splendid day had ended in such a heap.
"I'm coming," Alice dove for the opportunity to escape the Hare's morbid thoughts without thinking, "wait for me! I need my coat!"
The Hatter did wait, in fact, he froze. He hadn't expected to have company, and where he was going...well, he couldn't bring Alice there. No way. She came bounding up to him, but he halted her with a firm hand held up high. "You," he pointed at her, as if she could miss the fact that he was speaking to her, "are not coming."
"What is this?" Alice asked, irritated, "reverse psychology?"
"You can't come," he put his foot down.
"I don't have time for this," she told him airily as she pushed past him, signaling for him to follow. "I'm coming – whether you like it or not."
"I'm rather afraid if you shall like it or not."
"I'm coming," she pouted stubbornly.
The Hatter was momentarily distracted by this, but proceeded to shake off any feelings it may have stirred in him. "Fine," he worked to make his voice harsh, though failed miserably.
She allowed him to walk beside her, though she could feel his nervousness emanating from every inch of his skin. It made her jumpy, wondering what could put the happy-go-lucky-Hatter in such a somber mood. She was about to ask, but decided to bite down her curiosity, thinking her questions may bring on another unwanted declaration. She shivered uncomfortably at the thought.
The Hatter halted so abruptly she almost slammed into him. "What-" she began to ask.
"We go," he gestured dramatically to the tree, "in there."
Alice stared at the average, unmoving tree. "And – you're being serious?" She wondered if they were seeing the same thing.
"Of course I am." His eyes bored into hers.
"O-Okay," she worked to make her voice enthusiastic, though it delivered a little shakily.
He stepped up to the large tree, an placed one steady hand against the bark. Then he seemed to change his mind; he turned to Alice, almost pleadingly.
"You don't have to come, I'm – I'm worried it may upset you," his eyes told her he was desperately trying to find a way out of this.
"What could possibly worry me more than you claiming our destination is somewhere in that tree? Where are we going, anyway?" Alice could not bring herself to do the right thing and obey the Hatter's wishes. She needed to know where he was going, and why it was such a secret. She did not fully understand the need, but nevertheless, it was there.
"Something that – well, you might as well see for yourself. I – I can't really explain it with words, you see," he seemed bothered by the idea, but conceded to her company. Once again, he placed his hand against the bark of the tree – in the exact same spot it had been before – and gently pushed.
Bright light seemed to stream out of the grain in the shape of a doorway. It almost blinded Alice, and she hastily covered her eyes with an arm. So that's what happens when you push against a tree. Who knew.
The Hatter descended into the tree, which Alice now understood to be some sort of linking door to another place. Tentatively, she let herself be guided by him inside, where she forced her eyes closed against the blinding white light. She felt the bark swing close behind her, and immediately the light faded, and she could see again. She looked around her. She blinked. She looked around her again, not quite willing to believe what she saw. It was unbelievable, it was fantastic, it was incredible, it was...
"Home?" Alice asked him tentatively, not sure if she was seeing the familiar sight in front of her.
He only nodded somewhat gravely in response – and true, there it was. Standing next to the Hatter it was as if she were standing on the edge of her front lawn (which was more like a football field, really), and saw the familiar gray house that stood grandly in the middle, it's three stories towering over any trees that should happen to be growing near it. It was there, right there; the real world. Her world. It was right in front of her eyes, and yet she still felt like she could not properly reach it. Hesitantly, she reached out toward it, only to have her fingers pressed up against a see-through wall. Where her fingers touched, it rippled. She tried to push against the barrier, but it would not yield. She felt her eyes cloud over with guilty tears, though never quite crying.
"This – this is where you intended to go? Without me? Why – why have you brought me here? Why can't I get there?" She felt betrayed, suddenly realizing the truth of the Hatter's warning; 'something that would worry her.'
Hatter sighed, as he realized this would need a long, truthful explanation. He drew a long breath, then decided he would start at the beginning. Besides, wasn't that the best place to start?
"I – I found this passage by accident, Alice. And as it happens, it only allows me through it," he turned to her now, looking down into her eyes with quiet wishes, "you know, it was years after you had left. I used to come here, and sometimes I would see you, Alice. I would see you running. You know what you look like when you run? You look like a stallion – and I mean that in a flattering way," he tacked that on rather awkwardly, before turning reflective again, "it made me want to reach out to you. You know, I didn't realize who you were then, not even when you came to Wonderland. I thought – well, you remember it...but obviously I couldn't get to you."
He reached out, only to have his hand hit the same barrier Alice encountered. He sighed with some ancient sadness Alice had never heard before.
"I saw you so often – out there on the lawn, in amongst the trees. Then sometimes at night I would come here to star gaze. From your world, the night sky is so simple – so beautifully simple. It was enough to make a madman believe he could be sane," he sighed again, his breath heaving with sadness and longing.
"So this is where I come to think. I come here to escape the problems and eccentricities of Wonderland sometimes – I come to your world, where insanity is the sane, and life can be calculated and lived by a chequebook, and imagine what it would be like to be running on that lawn with you – in your world." Alice could not look at him anymore without her breath coming uneasily, so she resorted to staring out unseeingly at the lawn eclipsed by the moonlight, imagining what the Hatter may have imagined all those nights. She saw the Hatter, in her minds eye, standing where she now stood, picturing a young woman and young man with a large top hat race across the lawn like, well - stallions, as the Hatter so eloquently put it.
The Hatters voice, if possible, grew even quieter. "So no, I did not bring you here to torment you, or tease you with your home where you want to be so close, yet so far (how cliché!). The only reason I really allowed you to come with me, well, I wanted to be truthful with you, and I wanted to show you I'm a man of my word. I swear I can take you back to your world through this very door at the end of these five days if you wish me to. I'm a man of my word," as he repeated himself his voice lowered to agony, a sober thought tormenting his usually playful mind.
"You must hate me – you must hate all of us!" He groaned, forcing Alice to look up at him. "I swear," his voice was determined, although his face looked as though it would break from the very thought, "I will bring you back at the end of this. I will." He took Alice firmly by the shoulders, his eyes boring into hers, trying somehow to make her feel the conviction, desperation and hopelessness he felt at that very moment, "I will," he promised her nobly.
"I know," she whispered to him, then rested her head against his chest, still shocked at all he had told her. He cradled her head against his chest, before placing a gentle kiss on the crown of her head, allowing himself to go no further. He could never do anymore for her. He felt as if his heart were about to break.
"I will," he seemed to be telling himself more than her, as if willing his heart to beat again, even if it meant beating in a world where all he could do was watch Alice run along her lawn behind a glass wall.
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I have to say, I really enjoyed writing this chapter – although I have just finished now and it's about 1 o'clock in the morning. Awe – I've been pushing Hatter to his limits lately, I feel so bad for him :( And I know he kind of did a whole 180 in this chapter – at the start he's all confident, but I guess by the end I really wanted to show a side of him that deeply cared for Alice
Oh yes! And GOOD NEWS (I hope you guys will think its good, more importantly) I have set up a new story line (its started to show itself in this one) , so that I can create a SEQUEL! I just love this pairing, so I cant give up on them after just one story!!! yes or no?
Ah yes, and thank you for the cookies for Hatter!! (although he might need some more – he's been having such a rough time lately) mmm...cookies....
Individual thank-yous:
StrawberryKousagi: (takes cookie gratefully) thanks! Yeah, Alice was kind of harsh, but just wait, she'll be putty in his hands in no time....muah ha ha....lol
Sandcastleleashes: Thank you sooo much! I loved reading your review, and I get what you mean about it perhaps taking a little longer than expected, so hopefully this chapter can be a nice balance between suspense and adventure!!! thank you!
LizzySkellington: Thank you so much!!
Verity Strange: I've got to hand it to you – you're a thinker!!! I can't praise you without giving anything away so I'll just say you're awesome!!! :P and yeah, she is a tad creepy lol
steamboatwillie1928: lol, you little baker!!!! a whole plate – omg!! I have to give the Hatter a gym membership or something – holy cow!!! Thank you!!!
mutantsrocktheworld: a shout out to you, cause you kept me going at the start of this little adventure we got going on here!!!
REVIEW . REVIEW . REVIEW ? Can we make it to 40 reviews??? want to help out?!? :P