Author's note:
I'm back again. And I also have a serious headache from staying up till half past twelve last night, so that I could finish the eight chapter. But I'm writing anyway, good for you! And me…
9. Seven Dances
Recovering was boring. There was nothing one could do, not even tea. Apparently, it wasn't very good to drink "all that sugar" when you had almost died. Tarrant had never, in his entire life, heard something quite as stupid, and he had heard many dumb things. After all, he had been living with the March Hare for a decade, and what you hadn't heard by then probably wasn't that stupid anyway. As soon Mirana allowed him to get out of bed, he flitted around the castle, doing whatever thing he could find that he wasn't allowed to do "in his state."
Bah! Humbug!
Presently he was attempting to climb up a statue, just to see if it would hold, for he had overheard Mirana saying climbing on things was bad even when you weren't almost dead. Therefore Tarrant had set out to find the most pointless thing he could find, and then climb it. He was quite sure he wouldn't be able to find anything more pointless than a statue of a tree, standing indoors, in the attic. If not pointless, it at least was the strangest statue he'd seen this far. His daredevility was stopped before he could climb more than to the first branch.
"I don't think you should be doing this." Alice said, with a faint smile that took the seriousness out of her statement.
"But I have nothing to do. And I think climbing may be just as good as anything else." Tarrant beamed at her.
"Please, Tarrant, get down from there." Alice begged him.
With a groan of mock sadness, Tarrant managed to get himself out of the tree, and onto his face.
"Now my face hurts…" he moaned.
"I told you not to climb." Alice told him, wearing a I-told-you-so expression.
She had told him so. Twice, or at least that was how many times he could remember her saying it.
"How are you?" Alice asked, her voice filled with concern.
"I think I may have lost my head…" Tarrant winced.
"You'd already lost it." Alice reminded him.
"Oh, right. Then I suppose I'm fine."
Careful not to dislocate the bandage, he got back up on his feet, a slight befuddled expression in his eyes.
"I'm considering things that begin with the letter L. Lame… Lost… Lice… A lice. Alice." Tarrant giggled, one of his loud extravagant giggles that made most people feel uncomfortable. "The ball… In celebration of your return, I mean. Were you thinking of going with someone?"
"No, I don't think I'll be going, dances are extraordinarily boring." Alice sighed.
"Quite the opposite! I've never been to a dance in Otherland, but I am quite sure they're different to the once we hold in Underland. I'm sure you would enjoy it."
"I don't know any of the Underland dances."
"I could teach you!" Tarrant exclaimed, almost too eagerly, grasping Alice's hands in his. "There are seven dances, six of which I can teach you." He started leading Alice in the first dance, thus beginning the first of six lessons.
Alice couldn't help but notice, hope, the way Tarrant looked at her. And she didn't blame him, after all, she was the mother of his child. The hours seemed to fly when he was tutoring her in the six dances, and something seemed like it was growing inside of Tarrant during these days.
"Alice…" he whispered during a slower dance. "Do you remember I was contemplating on words that begin with the letter L? I found another one."
"Oh? What is it, then?" Alice breathed against his cheek.
"Love." came the answer that made Alice's heart swell. "I love you Alice."
He let his lips brush against Alice's a second, and when she didn't seem to have something against it, he got bolder, kissing her properly.
"I love you too." Alice mumbled, kissing him back.
"Hel-lo, Tarrant." a familiar, feline voice purred.
The pair pulled apart from each other, both glaring at the Cheshire cat.
"What do you want, cat?" Tarrant snarled.
"The queen wishes to see you both." Chessur smirked, then disappeared again, just missing out on Alice's chocked laughter.
"That cat never seize to amaze me." she smiled.
"He never seize to irritate me." Tarrant replied. "We should probably go to see the queen, yes?"
"Yes." Alice sighed. "Yes we should."
Mirana looked upon Alice and Tarrant with a smile.
"I am glad, " she said: "That you are feeling better. Are you well enough to attend the dance?"
"More than well enough, your majesty." Tarrant said with a slight bow.
"Am I correct in believing you will be Alice's company?"
"I would be delighted to."
"Then it's settled. And, Tarrant." Mirana added with a wink. "If you're waiting for a Moment, the dance would be a good place."
The evening of the dance was upon them, and Tarrant feared he might be getting cold feet.
No, that's absurd! She kissed me, right?
She did, but what if she'd only gotten caught up in the moment? Five years was an awful long time, what if she didn't actually love him anymore. Then he'd be standing there, looking like a complete idiot. Tarrant fumbled nervously with the little box in his pocket, breathing shakily.
Stop it, Tarrant. It's just a case of nerves.
Taking a very deep breath, Tarrant walked out the door, towards the merry sounds from the dancers.
Don't forget your muchness.
Tarrant's face was lit by a little smile the moment he saw Alice, looking beautiful as ever in a dress that looked almost like the evening sky; blue, flecked with pale pink and yellow, and even some stars that seemed to be woven into the fabric.
You can do this.
Author's note:
Everyone has been waiting for this moment, right? A real, actual kiss between Alice and Tarrant! Enjoy it, and prepare for something you probably have expected to happen. In the meantime, listen to "Don't come around here no more" by Tom Petty and the heartbreakers, this chapter was written during a fit when I refused to listen to any music except that song.