A/N:
heyy. i'm back like super early. just trying to even out this story with my other story im working on. and also i just HAD to write this chapter. its been bugging me all day and i needed to write it down. anyways, enjoy.
i do not own Alice in Wonderland.
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Chapter Two
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Alice tied her hair back hair after she woke up from her nap. She changed out of her traveling clothes into a smile blue dress with lace trimming and a small petticoat under it. She still refused to wear a corset and put on black and white knee length socks on with her black Mary-Jane's, no stockings.
She was still the same Alice.
She hurried out her bedroom door and down the hall, hoping to find the dining room without getting lost or having to ask for help from a maid.
She made it to the main hallway before admitting to herself she had no idea where to go.
"Alice!"
She quickly turned to where the voice came from and saw her Sister Margaret walking up to her. "We've been waiting. What took you so long?" she asked, taking her sister by the hand and leading her down the hall.
"Sorry. I lost track of time. I think the clock in my room is slow." Alice explained, following quickly next to her sister.
They entered the dining room and Alice's face turned even paler when she saw it wasn't just her family having dinner.
A young man with dark brown hair, wearing a high collar dress suit sat at the table next to an open seat.
"Alice, this is one of Lowell's friends. Graydon Flipp." Margaret said, she leaned in a little, "he's a lord!" she whispered happily.
Graydon stood up, smiled, and bowed his head to Alice. "Graydon, this is my little sister, Alice Kingsley."
Alice curtsied to Graydon, but a somber look still on her face. Margaret let go of Alice's hand and gently pushed her over to the table, "You're seat is next to Graydon."
Alice glanced over her shoulder as she walked around the table, watching Margaret take a sat next to Lowell and her mother.
Graydon pulled out Alice's chair for her. "Thank you." Alice mumbled, staring into her plate.
As they ate dinner, Graydon started talking to Alice, while the rest of the table sat quietly watching.
"So, how was the boat trip to China? I've heard they could be dreadful." he asked.
Alice took a sip of her water, "I didn't think so. I thought it was rather fun. Although one man was bitten by a rat on the way there and soon died. I'd heard rumors on the boat saying it might have been rabies. Once we got to the docks we all wanted to see a doctor immediately." Alice said, giggling a little.
She heard her mother clear her throat, causing Alice to look over at her. She gave Alice a stern look that screamed 'Not proper dinner conversation'.
Graydon smirked, "That sounds very interesting."
Alice nodded, turning her back slightly to look out the windows into the dark night.
"Alice?" Margaret asked.
She looked back at the table, and her sight changed. Instead of her family and the fancy dining room, she was outside, sitting at one of three tables with millions of different cups and teapots. The Mad Hatter, March hare and dormouse all sitting across from her, smiling happily holding up their teacups.
Alice blinked her eyes shut and tight. When she opened them it was back to normal. Her mother and sister gave her a confused look.
'I'm going mad.' she thought, taking another sip of her water.
She took a bite of her dinner when Graydon started talking to her again. "I've been talking with Lowell and your mother the last few months. They mentioned," he paused, "That you're looking for a husband."
Alice almost choked on her dinner but hid the fact from Graydon by clearing her throat. "Did they?" she asked.
He nodded, chucking. "It kind of startles me to think a beautiful young woman like yourself would have a hard time finding a husband."
Alice stared down at her plate, "Not really to me." she mumbled. She had a whole lot she wished to say to Graydon as to why she thought she still hasn't found a husband. The top reason was she wasn't in love with them but when she'd say that in the past she always got the same answer 'You'll fall in love eventually' and then they would never answer if Alice asked 'what if you didn't?'
"I beg your pardon?" he asked.
"What?" Alice asked, not really paying attention to what was happening outside her own head.
Graydon shook his head, "Never mind. Alice, I was thinking," he paused, a little smile on his face, "How would you like it if you and I take a stroll tomorrow around the lake? You can tell me more about China and your life. I'd really like it if you agreed."
Alice looked at him then at her mother. Her family looked so nervous, just waiting for Alice's answer.
She took another glance out her window, wishing the White rabbit would jump by the window so she could sprit out of there and follow him to Underland.
She finally looked back at Graydon, "I'm sorry Graydon, but I-I-" she paused, "I have a previous engagement that I can not break. Maybe another time." she said, standing up from her seat, "If you will excuse me. I'll be in my room." Alice said, walking out of the dining room.
She could hear a few chairs slid across the hardwood floor and then the tap of light footsteps following her.
"Alice!"
She stopped, not turning around and preparing herself for whatever her mother had to say.
Her mother and Margaret walked around her, both of their faces completely stunned. "Why did you turn him down?" Her mother asked.
"What previous engagement do you have?" Margaret asked, confused. Alice shook her head, "I only said that so I could have my day free tomorrow. I'm tired from the trip and I would like to relax."
"You could have just told him that. He probably thinks you have another suitor." Her mother sighed.
"So he is a suitor." Alice mumbled. Her mother sighed, "Please, Alice. I just want to know that you're well taken care off when I'm gone. Just go back in there and tell Graydon you'll go on a walk with him the day after tomorrow."
Alice paused. She truly hated when her mother would talk about when she'd die. It had almost been four years since her father died, she didn't know if she could handle losing her mother.
The baby's cry pierced their ears and Alice winced slightly.
Margaret sighed, "Alice come with me to get Thomas." She said, grabbing Alice's arm and pulling her down another hallway away from their mother.
"Margaret? What is it?" Alice asked, trying to get away from her sister's grip. They walked into the nursery and over to the cradle the infant was squirming in.
Alice watched as her sister picked up her son, rocking him in her arms. "Would you like to hold him, Alice?" she asked. Alice shook her head quickly. "It amazes me how natural motherhood came to you." Alice said to her sister.
Margaret laughed, "It will come naturally to you too, Alice."
She smirked and shook her head, "I don't think so." she mumbled. Margaret shook her head, "Nonsense. Once you find the right man and you learn your expecting, at first you might be scared, but don't be. You can always ask mother and me what it is like and we'll help you. And once you hold your little baby in your arms for the first time it'll come naturally to take care of it and feed and love it. But you need a husband first." she explained.
Alice walked over to her sister and stared down at her now silent nephew who was staring at his mother and aunt like they were fascinating. "I don't know. All these suitors are never really my type. Maybe I'm just not meant to find a husband."
Margaret shook her head, "No. You're just a little scared. I was when I started meeting suitors. Then I met Lowell and," Margaret sighed happily, "Look where we are now."
Alice glanced at the floor sadly.
"Something wrong Alice?" she asked.
She shook her head, "I'm fine. I'll be going to my room now." She said, walking back to the door.
"Alice." Margaret called. She stopped and looked back at her sister. "Just tell me what kind of guy you'd prefer so I can help mother find someone well."
Alice thought for a moment, "Someone…who's a little bit of everything." she smiled to herself, "Even mad." before leaving the nursery.
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Underland
--
The White Queen stood on her balcony, staring out at the forest covering most of Underland.
The day was slowly turning to night and she could see some dark clouds in the far distance. She thought it was odd, since the day had been so beautiful, how could it rain after that?
Bayard walked out and sat next to the White Queen.
"Your highness?" he asked. She looked down at him and smiled, "Yes Bayard?"
"Have you been feeling well? Everyone has noticed you've been acting differently the last few days." he asked.
She knelt down and scratched Bayard behind the ears, "I am fine. I've just been thinking about the Ball coming up. Nothing you should worry yourself about."
Bayard didn't fully believe the Queen, but took that as an answer for now, leaving the Queen alone on her balcony.
Once she was alone she sighed, "Something is wrong. I just don't know what." she mumbled, looking back up at the approaching dark rain clouds.
--
London
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Alice brushed out her hair as she looked out her window. The clouds were getting darker and she could hear thunder a little ways off.
She was about to change into her nightgown when something floated past her window.
She looked outside, "Peculiar. What could be out flying around with a storm coming?" she mumbled, getting closer and closer to the glass to see what it was.
Lightning flashed and Alice finally got a better look at the little creature sitting outside her window.
'Absolem!' She thought, shocked. 'This has to be Absolem. He's the only blue caterpillar I've seen and it only makes sense he's be a blue butterfly.'
She opened her window and was happy when the butterfly didn't fly away.
She leaned down a little to get a better look at the butterfly she thought was Absolem, "Do you know where an entrance to Underland is?" she asked.
This time, the butterfly flew up and all the way over to the edge of the balcony.
Alice took this as a yes, edging her to come along. "One moment. I have to leave a note for my family." she said, running back inside.
She grabbed a piece of paper and a quill pen and started to write.
Dear mother, Margaret, Thomas and Lowell,
I have indeed left home. I have answered my questions here and helped expand father's trading firm, making sure mother received all the money I would have so she is well taken care of.
I am leaving because I feel I do not belong here anymore. I do love all of you, but I need to be elsewhere. I will write to you if I can. And do not worry about me. Where I'm going I have plenty of friends and will be taken care of.
Sincerely, Alice Kingsley
She placed the letter on her bed and grabbed her coat. She walked back over to the window, placed her coat on and quickly looked around to make sure no one was out or watching.
She thanked whoever picked her room for picking it on the first floor. She pushed herself over the railing of the balcony and easily landed in the grass.
The butterfly flew up once Alice blushed the back of her dress off and led her down the property and into the woods.
Alice was happy all of this was familiar to her and she wasn't confused about it like before. She understood why she thought it was all a nightmare as a child and she practically forgot about it the next time she went to Underland, thirteen years later. The first time she went she was six years old and scared. She thought it was a dream and since she was so young that dream faded and she temporarily forgot.
But now she knew it wasn't a dream, it was a memory. One of her favorite memories and she was excited to make more memories in Underland now that the White Queen was ruling.
She pushed back the branches and stepped over a few fallen trees, trying her best to keep her eyes on the blue butterfly in the dark covered woods.
She pushed herself up a small hill, thinking how the butterfly was making her go deeper and deeper into the woods and closer to the storm. She worried it might start pouring on her.
The butterfly landed a branch of a tall oak tree, with a medium sized hole hallowed out in the middle.
"Is that the entrance the Underland? Its different then the other two entrances. Normally they're in the ground." she mumbled to herself as she slowly stepped closer to the tree.
She'd have to pull herself up to be able to crawl into that hole and fall in.
She was one step away from being able to touch the tree when the earth around her collapsed in and she fell down into a dark hole that was covered by some broken branches and moss.
'I will never get use to this part!' she thought, staring straight down into the darkness as her body fell into the entrance of Underland.
She was able to avoid falling into and bouncing off the bed this time, but she couldn't avoid the books that were falling and hitting her.
She finally crashed through the floor, bounced off the wall and landed on the ceiling as she waited for the room to fix itself and become right side up.
She tumbled to the floor, groaning as she sat up. She needed to ask the white rabbit how he managed to do it.
She stood up and stared around the room, smiling at the doors she remembered from her first visit. She saw the key, bottle and cake waiting for her in the middle of the room.
She stood up and grabbed the key and bottle but paused before taking a sip.
A note appeared on the table and she picked it up.
Dear Alice,
Now that I have my crown back, I've been able to unlock the doors for you so you entering Underland can be a little simpler. The key works as a skeleton key for any of those doors. I suggest you take the door with nails sticking out of it. It will take you to someone who can help you around.
Sincerely,
Mirana of Marmoreal, the White Queen.
Alice smiled and placed the note back on the table, as well as the bottle. She looked around the room for the door with nails sticking out of it.
She found it, and quickly walked over, unlocking it with the key and opening it up.
She stepped through the door, looking around a dark room.
The floors were squeaking as she walked with a coloring throw rug in the middle of the room, a few broken chairs and one sunk in couch. The paints and clocks on the wall were all crooked. Alice looked to the other half of the room and saw a small, dark kitchen with broken and not broken cups and multiple teacups.
She heard a crash from outside and quickly ran to the front door, pulling it open and running outside.
She stared around and smiled; it seemed brighter now. Not as gloomy as it was before when the Red Queen ruled.
A little farther a head was the place she wanted to be. Those three non matching tables with the cloth draped over them, the dozens of chairs only occupied by three and the dozens of scones and tea.
She saw the March Hare get hit in the head with a sugar cub, most likely thrown by the Dormouse that Alice couldn't see because of all the tea pots and cups in her way.
And sitting at the head of the table, in the biggest chair there, laughing with his friends was the Mad Hatter.
Alice breathed out, a smile on her face. "I'm back."
To be continued.
A/N:
did you like it? are you happy i decided to continue? i hope so! anyways, what do you think the white queen thinks is wrong? ooooh? lol. anyways. review/alart/fave/all that jazz.
tootles
~Taylor