Ok guys :) I do return to let you know this story is coming closer and closer to its end! Aren't we all excited? Well, I've been working on editing my actually manuscript that I hope to have published eventually, so I took a little break, but I have not forgotten or abandoned this assignment! Why would I do that? Really? I am too in love with Halice to do that. Thanks for the patience guys!

~~~**Tarrant X Alice**~~~

Alice looked around in the cave. It was dark already and she pouted. She had only been awake for a couple hours and had already taken her pill. Century had been gone for quite a while and she was beginning to worry over him. She found herself wondering why. True, he had kidnapped her and stolen her sword... and locked her in a cage...

But he had killed the cave crawler and he had been treating her wound. He was right when he said the pills would help with the pain. A little while after taking a pill she could move her foot and walk a little, but she limped from the lack of feeling in the appendage. She sat up and curled a strand of hair around her finger, becoming rather unimpressed with the boredum that was rapidly consuming her.

"Hmmm, da da da dooo," She randomly started humming and singing to herself, curling and uncurling the hair around her finger. Eventually even the small entertainment fled from the action and she released the tiny ringlet that fell flawlessly over her shoulder. She looked around and pulled her arms around her legs, resting her chin on her knees.

She found herself thinking and growing depressed. Century had been right about so much more. Tarrant had not found her and she was beginning to doubt that he was even looking, but then she would remember that he had asked to court her -or had she dreamed that? No, she was certain it had happened. She remembered his eccentric orange curls and how they contrasted his white skin in a marvelous fashion. She found tears swelling in her eyes. She missed him dearly. "Oh Tarrant, where could you be?" She whispered.

Had he come to search for her? Or had he stayed and taken back his professed desire to have Alice? If he had come looking for her, had he gotten injuried -or dare she say killed- in the process? She panicked at the thought. She couldn't have been the death of him, could she? The slight scuffle of boots pulled Alice from her wild ramblings. "Alice?" She heard a whisper.

Alice perked up and turned slowly to see a mop of wild fiery curls. Her face brightened immediately. "Tarrant!" She jumped up from her seat on the sofa and limped hurriedly towards him.

Her arms trapped his neck and she hugged tight, careful not to put too much pressure on her foot. His strong arms wrapped around her lithe frame and his nose nuzzled her neck. "Alice," he mumbled against her soft skin. He lifted her easily and took her back to the small furniture piece. He sat her on it and turned to leave again.

Confusion crossed her face as her hand darted out to grab his, wrapping her fingers around it, "Won't you stay with me?" She asked innocently. She reached to the table and grabbed the small bottle to get another pill out and popped it in her mouth.

He smiled gently to her and sat at her feet, but she would have none of that. She turned and crawled over, curling up beside him and laying her head on the folded furs. She snuggled into him and felt his hand on her hip, as if he were afraid to touch her. She sighed, accepting his timid attitude and closed her eyes, forcing off her mind so she could simply enjoy the feeling of him around her.

Soon she was fast asleep and her dreams were of happy nonsense that could not even be broken by the face of the Knave of Hearts.

~~~**Tarrant X Alice**~~~

Tarrant held the small gem up in front of his face. It seemed to pulsate and grow brighter with each dim. He replaced it back in his pocket and lifted his latern back into the air so that his small troop of soldiers could follow him. It was dark out and the fog almost blocked out the light from the lantern. Tarrant would not have been suprised if he lost all his followers in this dark night.

As he followed the gleaming gem, he prayed to whatever higher powers he could recall ever having heard mentioned that his beloved Alice was alive and well and did not think she had been forsaken. Oh Alice! He nearly sobbed at the thought of his love lying dead because she was trying to save their dear queen. The man who took her would pay for this -for all of it.

Tarrant didn't care if he were exiled to the abovelands for whatever he did to this Century character, he just knew that he would feel the pain he had inflicted upon the madman -somehow. The pulsation in the gem suddenly halted and Tarrant found himself blinded by the little pendant in his pocket.

Pulling back on the horse's reigns, he stopped and dismounted. He grasped his claymore in one hand and lead the horse with the other. "Alice?" He called out, hoping by some chance he would be heard and she would rush out to meet him. He supposed it was foolish to think of something like that.

He lead the horse into what looked to be a cave and found the gem trying desperately to escape from his pocket. He looked to his side questioningly and opened the small flap that was hiding the stone. It flew into the air and flew at an alarming rate. Tarrant dropped the horse's lead and darted off after the gem, even having a hard time keeping up at some parts.

~~~**Tarrant X Alice**~~~

Alice felt her warm little world shifting. She felt herself falling down the strange hole that linked her world to Underland all over again, except this time, all of the crazy things that had been falling with her were now covered in dust and cob webs as if they had not moved in a long time. When she fell and hit the ground, she landed up right. She had simply floated down to her feet, but she knew she was not in the room of doors...

No, this place sent chills running through her. She looked for the table and the doors, but none were there. It seemed she were in a black room with hard stone walls and red drapes that reminded her of blood. As she looked she suddenly realized she was surrounded -by card soldiers. She gasped and stepped back, looking around with wide eyes before straitening. She pulled up her stoney front that displayed that she was no longer alarmed.

"Don't be frightened, Alice." She heard a voice tell her. From the large crowd of cards she saw Century. He wore his long black cloak, held together in the front by a large red heart. He held the vorpal sword at his side, as if he were preparing for a battle. "I will not hurt you."

She snorted, "You couldn't if you wanted to."

He stepped forward, "Now Alice, don't be like that. I wanted our final meeting to be less... hostile."

She looked at him questioningly, "Final meeting? So you called me here?"

"Yes, Alice. I wanted to tell you that as long as you stay in the cave you will be safe, but... If you venture out, she will kill you." He stepped up to her, capturing his hand in his own. "But I will protect you... with all my life if I must." He leaned down to kiss her cheek before her world faded again, and this time, instead of black, all she could see was blood. All she could hear was a loud screaming of, "Off with her head!"

~~~**Tarrant X Alice**~~~

Tarrant found himself in a hollowed out point in the cavern. In this part was a dying fire and a small, what looked to be, living space. A large mirror hung on the wall and a head of curled blonde hair was visible on the floor in front of a piece on furniture. The hatter found himself on one knee next to the girl, "Alice!" He nearly shouted, lifting her small body into his arms. He held her tight and listened to her breathing for a moment when suddenly he felt her breath hitch across his throat.

He loosened his grip and pulled her down so that she could see his face. His magenta lips pulled into a smile as she groggily opened her sleepy eyes. She looked rather adorable like this, and he was sad when it ended and realization hit her. She grinned up at him, her sleepy smile causing him to chuckle, "You found me," She whispered.

He nodded and pulled her up into a standing position. She felt the pain shooting through her leg and whined out. Tarrant looked a question at her. "Pills!" She whispered, looking at the small table where the bottle had been, "What'd he do with the pills?" She wondered.

Tarrant looked even more confused this time. "Century -he gave me small pills for my leg."

Tarrant looked and she lifted her dress for him to see that her foot was indeed bandaged. He didn't ask for permission as he scooped her up bridal style. "Its alright, dear Alice... I've got you." He whispered, kissing her forehead.

She remembered her dream and gasped, jumping nearly completely to of his arms, "No! Its not alright! If you found me then you must have soldiers with you, but who is guarding the queen?" She shouted.

Tarrant looked surprised as she toughed through her pain and limped hurriedly over to the mirror. "Mirror! I command you to show me Century." She said strongly.

The mirror rippled and the image before her was one that made her nearly wish to vomit. Century before the Jabberwocky and the Queen of Hearts, slaying many a guard that dare get in his way. "Forget them! Its time for a little family reunion." Iracibeth crowed, sliding off the great beast that spewed electrical fire at the castle.

Dun Dun dun! And this concludes our chapter :) I'm really sorry that this chapter is so short, but I don't have a way to track word count on this computer :/ Don't forget to leave many many reviews. I am happy to read them and to take advice/requests for the next chapter. I think the next chapter or the one after shall be its end :)