Alice and Mouse felt giddy through and through, giggling in elation at the prospect of a masquerade. Arm in arm, the two ladies smiled at one another, smothering their chuckles, and raced through the streets. Evening had dawned upon Wonderland, the colours of the sky mingling together, like paints on a canvas, blending from one shade to the next. A wondrous Friday night, indeed, to throw such a fanciful celebration that it had been hard upon the two young ladies to find patience enough to go about their business as usual within the last couple days. There hadn't been any recent Mad Tea Parties, but Alice shrugged it off, persuading herself the reason was all due to the preparations for this special, unusual occasion. She attempted to influence her dear little Mouse of this concept, too, but failed. Mouse's mind fancied it more likely that the Earl was shunning any further conversation on the fast approaching coronation ceremony, but spoke nothing of it. Being uneducated in politics and nobility, she always questioned herself on her thoughts and thus settled on never divulging them, even to the loving and understanding princess.
Alice simply had to allow a small giggle at the expense of Mouse, seeing as the peasant blushed and shrunk at realizing the two of them were turning heads. And why shouldn't they? thought Alice. Two decent young ladies, in no way unattractive, in such elaborate gowns should at the very least get such a reaction. And their masks were so positively delightful that Princess Heart would have found it impossible to discover Mouse Shyheart's identity if it were not for her habits and well known traits such as blushing and shrinking from anything and everything. She mused, 'If only Lord March could behold her now. Ah! But soon enough, soon enough. . .'
So the princess merely gave her darling's hand a little squeeze in an attempt to express her raptures and enthusiasm. Mouse giggled, her cheeks still tinted somewhat pink beneath her shining blue eyes. Alice had gotten the peasant a matching headband to finally hold back those troublesome black bangs and found her all the more adorable at being capable of now seeing her pale face and large eyes in whole. Howbeit, in a few moments she would again have to dawn her mask and once more hide her darling self behind it. Alice almost thought it too soon and partially wished to abstain from entering the party just a moment longer. Mouse would never object, but perhaps Ethan would propose she was avoiding the game. For to him, it was nothing but a game and one he meant to win.
"Very well," she remarked aloud. "We'll see who the victor is tonight."
Alice slid her mask down over her face and gestured for Mouse to do the same. The two glanced over each other a moment, one blushing, the other smiling playfully at the affect. Alice was clad in regal colours of purple with gold trim, the cloth clinging to the curves of her body as to give her a sensual air about her, a little something she did purposefully for show for Ethan. She may not be able to prove she was fully matured enough for marriage and the rule of a kingdom, but she could very well flaunt she had at the very least matured as a young lady. This she accomplished simply by the low cut bodice that she and Mouse dawned. Mouse blushed at this and could hardly believe she had been coerced into it, inspite of her prior awareness to her inability of denying her princess any whim. Her gown was very much to the same affect as Alice Heart's, a simple shade of dark blue with silver trimming and garbed in a complementary mask with silver specks representing stars and a waning silver crescent on her forehead. Alice's mask was purple with golden beads with its impression similar in many lengths to that of an Arabian veil.
The air was alight with the hum of activity, masked figures all making their way towards the grand Earl's summer home he maintained in Wonderland. Torches and candle lit pathways lingered about the street, fighting back the shadows of guests and attempting to discover their identity by shedding a little light upon the surroundings, to no avail. The young ladies giggled a little more, both quoting a favorite poem in unison:
"A mask of sweet sincerity…"
"A cloak of loving kindness," Mouse trailed off, her eyes sparkling beneath her mask.
And on they were swept by the sea of faceless strangers into the heart of the festival and celebration. The ballroom surged with life and anticipation, waiting, if not quietly, patiently for the host of the glorious ball that was said never to be rivaled again in Wonderland. Alice kept a tight lock on her darling's arm, being sure not to loose the small thing in such a crowded place. Colours danced and streamed across the expanse as skirts twirled and gentlemen bowed. Vibrant costumes filled all the halls and random looking glasses were placed about to give the illusion of more fanciful rooms of people then there were. But suddenly all tongues were hushed behind their lips and all eyes shifted to a bridge of the second story where a tall, young gentleman stood in normal old gothic wear. His dark hair blended into the shadows behind him, but the green tint in his eyes was more noticeable than ever. His smile warmed the room than any number of the hearths lit about his home. Ethan bowed to his guests, his eye resting on two particulars.
"Good evening, ladies and gentleman. Let me begin by extending a warm welcome to you all," he began, his voice echoing off every wall to give the illusion he was everywhere in the room. His smile brightened as he added, "And especially to our special guests, Mouse and Her Highness. I am very pleased, honoured, and graced with your presences. We celebrate today the love and joy that is Wonderland and are here to also pay respects to Princess Alice's upcoming coronation." Here arrived a pause for a long, enthusiastic applause throughout the grounds. He resumed, "It makes my heart glad that so many friendly faces, though I can't tell whose," at which there were many laughs, "gathered here today to help me in this celebration. Your presence is the strongest show of encouragement towards myself. I should therefore wish to conclude on a note of thanks to you all and to end with a toast."
He lifted his top-hat off his brow with a smile, cheering, "To Wonderland!"
"TO WONDERLAND!!!"
The room buzzed with even more frenzy and excitement than before, which made it impossible for Alice to deduce when the Mad Hatter had slipped away into the shadows and where he had disappeared to. Before she could be in Mouse's confidence, the band struck up a tune and both ladies' attentions fell upon the graceful approaching figure of a gentleman. Mask or disguise could never hide Lord March with so regal an air and so humble an attitude as he asked for Mouse's little hand for the first waltz. Alice released her hand, as if releasing all ties, and gave the blushing girl a nudge towards the happy young man.
The princess only paid a few moments of smiling attention to the dancing couple for Mouse's encouragement before scanning her surroundings in search of the hatter. Despite how he stood out from all the court, how well he was able to hide among them like a wolf in a flock of sheep with no one's notice. Alice was sure he must have left to get in disguise and that was where the trouble began. What would he look like? She somewhat expected to see him in a top hat, but also believed he might have slipped it off for a night just to add to the confusion. The many masks escorted by top hats were no help to her either.
"Excuse me, Good Sir," she pleaded with the stranger who seemingly wasn't engaged at the present. "Could you tell me where I am to find the Mad Hatter?"
A mask of sweet sincerity.