Johanna Greer Hightopp
"The bread and butterflies must be having fun in my stomach today," Alice moaned as she clutched her middle.
"Here, take this," as Alice drank the calming draught I explained, "Her Majesty thought you might need something to calm yourself down." I had a sudden thought as to check on the boys upstairs, I got the feeling something was wrong. "Excuse me, I think I need to go check on the men," I smiled and opened the door and walked down to the furthest end of the hall, "The men whom are more like boys or babies," I muttered.
"I heard that Johanna!" Alice called to me. I laughed and knocked on the door then opened it anyway.
"Okay boys, what's going on?" Tarrant eyes were orange and he was literally covered with sweat and shaking violently. Hamish ran out the door past me, knocking into me and making me lose my balance and fall.
"Hamish came in," Alick said and extended his hand to hlep me up. I nodded listening, "And he started getting Tarrant angry, said Alice was his, that there was an agreement and that they were engaged before he even came along. Tarrant started going mad and I had to literally pick Hamish up and dump him on his ass in front of the door. I said, 'now that you know the way, get out of here,' and he left." I smirked and walked over to face Tarrant.
"Don't worry Tarrant, theres nothing he can do, his own parents agreed. And if your wondering how I know this… remember." I tapped my head mischievously and he giggled his eyes turning to his normal green. He lifted his arms and allowed me to see all the wrinkles in his white, gray, and silver suit.
"Tarrant Hightopp!" I screeched. He jumped so high I was surprised he didn't hit the ceiling! I began to straighten out the wrinkles and chide him. I then walked over to Alick and despite his protests of being, 'just fine!' I fixed him as well, lingering on his chest. I stood on tiptoe and he bent down and we kissed. When Tarrant cleared his throat we reluctantly pulled away.
"Five minutes to sunset, you better get going. Niven's won't be a happy bunny if were all late," I giggled. "I'll see you then!" I called as I walked out and down the hall. I opened the door, startling my mother, Helen, Margaret, and Alice.
Margaret, now an even eight months pregnant, exclaimed that I nearly gave her a heart attack. I laughed and finished straightening and fixing my hair in the mirror. After hearing the men pass our door I peaked out. They were gone.
"Let's go!" I grabbed Alice and the five of us walked down the corridor. We were joined by Malise and the two of us couldn't help singing an Outlandish chant as we walked. Margaret took her places as the bride's maid, Malise and Mally - two wonderful 'M' names - served as the flower girls, and I? I had at first refused taking any real part but I had to relent to being the second bridesmaid and a witness of the ceremony. Together we went down the aisle to the sound of the fast pace Outlandish Wedding March.
Alice
As my mother walked me down the aisle I felt the bread and butterflies return with a fervor. My dashing husband-to-be was standing at the end dressed all in white, gray, and silver. It took every amount of self-restraint for me to keep from running up to him. My mother placed my hand in his and whispered to him.
"Take care of my little dreamer."
"Of that Madam, you have my solemn oath!" He said with shinning eyes.
We stepped up to the minister. He said the things that were said in an Underlandian wedding, all but the vows, those were borrowed from Otherworld.
"Alice Kingsleigh, will you begin?" I handed my bouquet to Margaret and turned to my dashing husband-to-be.
"Tarrant Hightopp, when we first met I was only a silly little girl with a wild imagination. Over time you helped me find who I really was, you helped me find my muchness and you have saved my life many times. You have become the sun I orbit around. And I vow to always be there for you. No matter how mad you become. I love you and I always will."
All were trying to fend off the tears that tried to escape when I had finished.
"Tarrant Hightopp. You may say your vows." Hatter gulped nervously.
"Alice Kingsleigh, I love you with all my heart and forever will. You are my angel, the one who keeps the madness away and keeps me sane. You are Mo Gradh! My love! I promise to put you first always and to never look at another woman in the same way I do you. I vow to always love you my Angel! I love you with all my heart and I forever will!"
The tears flowed freely from my eyes, all were crying: Tarrant, the minister, even Absolem! Johanna nodded her head with a warm smile, looking at her brother with love and admiration.
The minister presented us and said, "You may now kiss the bride!" Tarrant pulled me close to him.
"Gladly," he whispered and kissed me passionately. Everyone cheered and Tarrant's nieces and nephews - related through cousins- and Malice and Alistair made disgusted noises.
We left for the reception and it was beautiful! White, blue, and green flowers were hung everywhere, gold dust was sprinkled on the white tables, and white fabrics hung from every high point in the courtyard of Marmoreal and candles were light everywhere! I gasped in shock and delight.
"It's so beautiful!" I breathed.
"I would certainly hope so, we've all put a lot of work into it!" Malise spoke up.
"Come on Malise, you donnae ha'e ta give Alice a hard time! She's kens that!" Johanna said, throwing her arm around her younger sister who was nearly as tall as her.
"I'm just saying," Malise argued with her big sister.
"Yah," Greer said unconvinced before she pulled her into a headlock ignoring the girl's screeches of protest at the ill treatment. Tarrant laughed and pulled me closer and into him.
"As annoying as they are..." He trailed off.
"Hey!" Both the girls interjected upon hearing this. He chuckled and pulled my body closer to him.
"I'm glad their here, and that their alive. And I must thank you for that, Angel!" He kissed me thoroughly until I was out of breath and had to pull away. "You made it safe for them to return and I am grateful for that."
"Oh yes! He'll be showing his gratitude tonight… in bed!" Tarrant, our mothers, and my sister and I just about had a heart attack.
"Johanna!" Tarrant choked out and got a menacing look in his eyes. Johanna smiled mishivously and danced away to Alick.
"Alice! It's time to throw the bouquet!" My mother said as she dragged Margaret to the side and ran to fetch the available women who were old to marry.
"Are you all ready? One! Two! Three!" I threw the bouquet and turned to see who caught it. The White Queen stood there holding the bouquet and blushing bright red.
"I didn't even try!" She protested.
"Looks like Underland is getting a new king!" Howled Uncle Calgary with laughter. The festivities were amazing, and as I danced the first dance with Tarrant I felt as if I was flying. The dinner was also amazing.
There were dishes from above, and then there were colorful foods from all over Underland. There was Symorie, a pastery stuffed with cream with a light drizzle of honey, caramel, chocolate, or even powdered with sugar and sometimes with cheese, but it all depended on what was on the inside. Redurn a kind of rum that was, naturally, colored red, the only people I noticed drinking it were Calgary and Alick; Tarrant explained that it was a drink generally for the men. Sipque, a soup that had a special sauce that when mixed made the bitter taste into something to savor for a life time; and many other things.
"Alice, it's getting late. I think it's safe for you and Tarrant to sneak away now." Calgary said, placing his hand lightly on my shoulder. I nodded blushing and set out to search for Tarrant. Uncle Calgary certainly was in on the wedding night. He'd probably help get things ready. Tarrant's eyes turned a dark green when I told him that Uncle Calgary said it would be all right for us to leave now.
And if there's one thing I'm allowed to say about it, it's that on that night Tarrant and I had just began our forever … I was just glad to have found my Happily Ever After.
A/N: Thanks to all who have read and reviewed this thing! I love you all lots! 3 Happy New Year!
With much love,
~Cheyenne A. W.