I do not own Alice in Wonderland.
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Chapter Four
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The next day, Alice had decided to visit the White Queen. Hatter had told her the ball was in a few days, and Alice wanted to pay a visit to Marmoreal to see it before it was decorated for the ball.
But it seemed too late, because once the Hatter and Alice approached the White Queen's castle the next day during the afternoon, white knights were decorating the trees and planting new flowers for the party.
"I hope her majesty isn't too busy to see us." Alice thought out loud. Hatter shook his head, "She's never too busy! And if she is I'm sure she'll drop whatever she's doing to see you! You are a champion after all."
They climbed the stairs to the castle and were welcomed inside.
Alice knelt down to the floor happily when she saw Bayard running up to her. "Bayard! Hello." she said happily, hugging the bloodhound.
He nodded, "Hello Alice. Hello Hatter." he said, bowing his head to the both of them.
"You got here so quickly." Alice said amazed. It hadn't even been five minutes ago since they made it to Marmoreal.
"It was in the Oraculum that you'd arrive back to Underland. Her majesty asked me to come welcome you today." he explained.
Alice nodded, completely forgetting about the scroll that held the faith of Underland.
As they walked further inside, the Hatter turned down a different hallway.
"You'll have to excuse me. I'd like to begin making you a hat, Alice." He told Alice as he walked away.
She nodded, and once Hatter had disappeared down the hallway she looked down at Bayard, "He has a room here?" she asked.
Bayard nodded, "He is the royal hat maker; it only makes sense he had his own room in the castle. Ah, here we are." He said, motioning his head to a glass door. Alice opened it, and it lead to a small terrace. Sitting on a white bench was the White Queen.
Alice walked up to her, and curtsied when she was sure the White Queen could see her.
"Ah. Hello Alice." She smiled to her, and patted the seat next to her. Alice gladly took the seat.
"Tell me, why have you returned?" She asked Alice. Alice glanced down at her hands, "I've missed you all. And I've answered at the questions up there."
"That's it?"
Alice nodded. "I feel like I belong here in Underland. I hope its okay that I stay here until I feel ready to return."
White Queen smiled, "You may stay as long as you wish. Would you like to stay here in the castle?" she asked.
Alice shook her head, "Thank you, but I already have a room at the March Hare's home."
White Queen smiled. 'I should have known Tarrant would invite her to stay with him first.' she thought.
"How has things been here? No rebellion?" Alice asked. The White Queen shook her head happily, "Why would anyone want to rebel when I'm ruling? I understand the rebellion when my sister had the crown, but for me? I don't think so."
Alice chuckled. 'What a stupid question. I shouldn't have asked.'
"And Red Queen and Knaves?"
White Queen shook her head, "Still in exile and no sign of rebellion from them. All is at peace."
"Well, follow me, will you?" she asked, standing up and walking to the door. Alice followed, and together they walked through the giant castle.
"Has Hatter told you about the Ball?" she asked. Alice nodded, "He's escorting me."
White Queen smiled, "Wonderful. You'll have a blast going with him. He is a very good dancer."
Alice nodded happily, remembering the first time she saw the Hatter futterwacken. "Underland has very interesting dance style." she commented.
White Queen laughed, "I'm sure where you are from they have much different styles, yes?"
Alice nodded, "Definitely."
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Hatter carefully stitched a light purple silk ribbon to a smaller version of his own top hat.
He had already finished the White Queen's hat for the Ball, and now he was happily working on Alice's hat. The hat was a dark pine green color, with three lighter green feathers in the back of the hat and a light purple ribbon wrapped around it and tied in the back, two tails falling down till it would seem to meet the middle of Alice's back.
He still wasn't done though; he needed a hat pin and a clip to put around the bow of the ribbon.
He was certain Alice would be pleased with it.
Knock, knock
Hatter quickly grabbed a long trail of fabric and covered Alice's hat. "C-Come in!" he shouted.
The White Queen poked her head inside, and then quickly walked in, "Hello Hatter. I came to check on my hat."
Hatter bowed until it seemed like his head would hit the floor, then stood up straight. He jumped slightly when he stood up and saw Alice appear behind White Queen, when a moment ago she wasn't there at all.
He laughed, "Alice, are you magic?" he asked. Alice gave him a quizzical look, and then shrugged with a smile on her face, "Anything is possible here."
He nodded, his mad grin still on his face, and led the White Queen over to her hat on the shelf.
"Oh, it's beautiful, Tarrant! Thank you." she smiled, trying the hat on and looking it over in a near by mirror.
He nodded happily, pleased that the Queen liked his hat.
Alice stood by the table where her hat was, unbeknownst to her. She glanced at the fabric that seemed to be draped over a hat, and she began to reach for it, to see the hat under, when the Hatter quickly stepped between her and the table, a very close fit.
"No peeking." he told her.
"Is that my hat?" she asked, glancing past him at the table. He took a step to the left, blocking her vision, "Yes and it is a surprise. You won't get to see it until the Ball."
Alice half smiled, "You can't keep that hat from me that long, Hatter. I know you too well."
He shook his head, "Nonsense. I know how to keep a secret. And the ball is only three days off. I'm sure I can wait that long to show you."
The White Queen watched the two and smiled. 'They're so cute.'
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As Alice and Hatter left the castle that night to return home, news had spread of Alice's return.
All of Alice's friends had gathered at the March Hare's home, waiting to welcome back Alice. Tweedledee and Tweedledum were there as was the White Rabbit, the Dodo, and the Bandersnatch.
The news had spread farther and farther through Underland, until it reached the outskirts of Underland.
Two talking birds had been flying over head, discussing the Ball.
"Did you hear the champion Alice will be at the ball?" Bird one said. Bird two nodded, "The Alice? Of course! Why wouldn't she see there?"
As he hid behind the tall trees, listening in on the birds conversation, Knaves grinned evilly. They now knew she was back! He quickly ran back to the camp he and Iracebeth had made.
He couldn't wait to get this entire thing over with. He wanted to be rid of the dreaded Red Queen. How on Earth did her parents stand her all those years? He felt sick at the thought of having a mini version of the Red Queen bossing orders and being her obnoxious self.
His mind drifted from the Red Queen to when they would capture Alice.
Alice…he grinned. He couldn't wait to capture her. He had had a small crush on her when she was Um but when he found out she was Alice and she was reverted back to her normal size that crush was destroyed and replaced with a deep hatred.
Although…he did admit Alice was far prettier then Iracebeth, and if he did see her as tall as she was as Um he might not be able to help himself of trying to seduce her.
He walked into a small cave and took a seat in front of a fire. Iracebeth sat across from him. She had a stick in her hand and was drawing stick figures in the dirt. One seemed to be her, as her head was the shape of a heart; the other seemed to be Knave since it was the tallest out of the three. And the third had to be Alice, since she had a wavy mess for hair and was thrown into a giant fire.
"Alice has returned." He said a grin on his face.
Iracebeth dropped the stick and stood up, "Where is she?"
"I don't know but I do know she will be at your sister's ball in three days."
"The ball? How are we suppose to kidnap her when she's surrounded by the knights and my sister?!" Iracebeth asked annoyed, pulling at the lose strands of hair.
Knave reached over and grabbed the stick, and started drawing something in the dirt in front of him.
"You forget that there are millions of different places in the White Queen's castle. You had the privilege of seeing inside that castle before you took the crown from your sister." he told her.
Iracebeth grinned and nodded, quickly bending down next to Knave and taking the stick from him, "You're right! I know the layout of her castle!"
She started drawing it out from memory, drawing the courtyard where she thought the ball would be held, and a path to a rose garden.
"She would most likely give the knights time to enjoy the party so their probably won't be too much security." Iracebeth mumbled, taping her chin.
She circled a blank clearing, "There. We'll hide out there and the moment we see Alice alone we take her!"
Knaves grinned evilly, banging his fist into his palm, "Perfect! In the mean time we'll need something to restrain her."
Iracebeth stood up and walked into the darkest part of the cave, "You read my mind." She said coolly, pulling out a makeshift rope and blindfold that looked like the same material as her dirt covered dress.
"Perfect. We should get moving then. It's at least a two day walk to Marmoreal." Knave mused.
Iracebeth gripped the restraints, a sick and evil look twisting onto her face. Her plan was slowly going into motion.
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To be continued.
A/N:
there it is. a little shorter then the other chapters i know.
i've realized the way i've planned it out that the only way is to have the chapters a little short. sorry guys
also, i'm not sure if i'm a good writer, (lots of ppl say i am tho) but i suck at proofing my stories. I have nooooo idea how to get a Beta Reader so I'm sorry guys, but your stuck with my crappy proof read story :( real sorry. (its my dyslexia and my lack of having good English teachers that actually teach us about writing. damn bitches...ugh)x ) also thanks for all the alarts and favs and reviews! I was so happy when i got all those emails :) anyways
review/alart/fave/all that jazz.
tootles!
~Taylor