A/N: Again, I update so late… Cookies for those who wrote reviews, added this to their favorites or me, etc.! *hands cookies* Anyway, since I'm going to junior high this year (yeah, I'm pretty young), I'm a bit busy, and I have lots and lots of exams before the summer holiday. Oh! We had a tour few days ago at the school, and we played games and stuff. Like, in one of them you had to give a match stick to another student with your mouth! Kinda gross (WTF? I love writing moments like that!), but we had lots of fun. XD
But now, enough of my blah blah, enjoy the next chappie, huns! :)
Tarrant woke up when a leaf landed on his nose, and it made him sneeze very loudly. He opened his eyes, but closed them again; the sun was too bright. He attempted to stand up, but he felt something warm around his waist. He thought about moving that something, when he looked down, he felt a blush creeping on his cheeks.
''Alice'', he thought.
A blond, pretty young woman slept her slender hand around the hatter's waist. She didn't even stir, when Tarrant sat back onto ground.
The hatter had no idea what to do; should he wake her up, or let her sleep, or should he try to sleep, should he wake himself up… His thoughts were already getting mixed up! He held his head in his hands for a moment, and then it hit him. Scenes of last night were flashing in front of his eyes, and his blood was bubbling when he thought about the knave. Alice did not deserve something like that, especially from him. Not from anyone.
He looked back at the sleeping girl. She seemed peaceful, but she did not smile, like usually when she was sleeping, he had noticed. But he did not wonder why. It was water-clear.
Before he could even control himself, he, or his hand, had begun to stroke her blond curls. He loved the smell of her hair; it was as good as the smell of tea.
Alice felt someone stroking her hair. It felt very familiar, thought no one hadn't done it for her for a long time. The last one to do it was…
''Dad'', she thought.
She stirred a bit, and the stroking ended. But then it started again. She let herself to enjoy it for a little longer. Very slowly, she opened her eyes. Her vision blurred a bit first, but then he saw his now lavender eyes.
''Tarrant?''
He blinked. He blinked twice. Then he pulled his hand back from her hair.
Alice's eyes widened a bit; he thought she had told him to stop! No, she wanted him to continue.
She put her own hand around his and said:
''Tarrant, I didn't want you to stop. It felt nice.''
Slowly, his slightly hurt-look melted into a smile, but it also disappeared soon, as he asked:
''Alice?''
''What is it?''
''Do you, do you remember what happened… last night?''
He did not want her to cry again. He wasn't even sure if this was the right moment to ask her about this.
Alice remained silent for a moment, and looked away.
''… I do remember.''
Before he could speak, she continued, looking now into his eyes:
''But I want to be strong, not cry over it. I can't cry about something that happened only to me, when everything in Underland can be in danger. I can do it, I know I can, Tarrant, so please, let's talk about this later.''
And once again, he was amazed by her, and her strong mind.
The heat was draining their energy quickly, since there was no shadow or water near them. Tarrant waved Alice to stop, and they stood in their places for a moment to catch their breath.
After probably an hour, the hatter saw something white behind the mountains. He smiled in relief, and pointed it. Alice noticed this and turned her head.
''Can you see that'', Tarrant asked.
She narrowed her eyes to the spot he was pointing at.
''Is it…?''
''Yes, I mostly believe it is. No long way to go anymore'', he smiled cheeringly, and got a smile in return.
Their friends were waiting for their arriving at the castle grounds. Cheshire vanished and appeared in front of them. He looked, unusually, very sad. Even the Tweedles, March Hare, Mallymkun and McTwisp looked sad, and the dormouse's eyes were red from crying. It was sure something really bad had happened.
The hatter was the first to speak, but even he stuttered with his words:
''W-why are you so sad, my friends? Did something… bad… happen?''
Mallymkun took one of her tiny tissues from her pocket, and sneezed loudly in it.
''The White Queen… she 'as fallen 'o a critical condition, Hatta, Alice.''
Alice gasped, covering her mouth with her hand and Hatter's eyes turned their color to light-blue, and Alice knew what it meant. Sorrow and sadness.
''But why'', she asked.
Tears were already burning hear eyes, and she knew she would break down soon. Thought she wanted to be strong, this was not something, you could just let go. Mirana was the White Queen after all.
This time, Cheshire spoke:
''As you know, luv, sicknesses affect differently to us in here, unlike in your world. If one of us would get sick in here, the one would die, after time. And if you get sick here, before you've become one of us, you'll die eventually. Queen has pneumonia, and since it is one of your worlds sicknesses, her body and mind can't take it long anymore.''
Tarrant pulled his hat to cover his face, so they couldn't see his expression.
''Can you please take us to her'', Alice asked.
''I'm sure the Queen has something to say for Underland's champion. Follow me'', the cat said, and smiled briefly.
White Queen looked so fragile, her white hair spreading on the pillow, and her plum lips were shade lighter. She probably had heard them coming, so she opened slowly her eyes. When she saw her visitors, she smiled weakly. Her voice was raspy and very weak as she spoke:
''You are finally here champion of Underland, and my royal Hatter.''
As Alice and Tarrant stepped close her bed, Alice took Mirana's hand in her own, and squeezed it lightly. Tarrant's top hat wasn't covering his face anymore, and his eyes were light blue once again.
''There is one thing I must ask your help for'', the Queen said, and started to cough.
After her coughing stopped, Alice asked:
''What can we do for you, my Queen?''
Mirana smiled briefly.
''How many times I have asked you to call me Mirana, Alice'', she said with kind tone.
''Not too many'', Alice said, a small smile on her lips.
White Queen looked at the hatter, and then Alice again.
''As you know, my dear friends, I am going to die very soon. And Underland needs someone for the Queen. So I must ask, Alice and Tarrant, would you search the Outlands for my second, and younger sister, Virginea? I know you have never heard of her, but will you listen, if I tell you?''
Both of them nodded, surprised.
A/N: Okay, and there you have a cliffhanger! ^^'
Do not worry, I'll start the next chapter tomorrow, and I promise you, that it will not take a month to finish, like every other chapters! Stay tuned, and please review! Oh, and thank you for those, who have put me to favorite writers list or favorited this story! I was visiting my other inbox few weeks ago, and when I logged in, there was like 198 messages, and they were everyone about favoriting and subscribing me or this story and reviewing! I had a total OMFG-expression on my face, and you'll never guess how happy I was. ;)
Thank you, you are the ones that keep me writing this more and more!
