The door flung open and the hatter frantically rushed in. "Alice!" He grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet, "We've got to get out of here." She looked at him confusedly. Pulling her arm free she went to grab the Vorpal sword.
"I can't run with both of our swords, Tarrant!" She exclaimed. He took one and nodded to her thanks before grabbing the wrist of the arm she grasped her weapon in and pulled her toward the door. She followed close behind him as they trecked their way through the castle halls. "What's going on?"
Her question would get no immediate response as a cluster of card soldiers rounded the corner and held their weapons in fighting stances. Tarrant ushered Alice to stand behind him before throwing a glance over his shoulder to see if they had been surrounded. Luckily they had not. Cards 7 through 10 rushed at him, the other two -numbered 3 and 4- stood still. He looked so focus and determined.
It was then that Alice noticed the cut on his right cheek. His eyes darkened significantly and he lunged forward, shoving his blade strait through the center heart of the 9. He raised his blade and dropped it harshly from the neck-like juncture of the 7 and swung down to the middle diagonally. Alice was surprised that the armor the cards were clad it could be penetrated so easily. Tarrant gave one swing and took off the head of the 10 card, kicking it down the corridor as the body ran about confusedly. With another lunge the 8 cards had a blade between its eyes.
Alice had been so absorbed in watching Tarrant fight that she hadn't even noticed that the 3 and 4 cards had come considerably close to her. She felt one grab her bruised arm and she cried out, swinging her blade hard against the 4 as the one who had done it was behind him at the angle she swung. The card was chopped in half. The 4 card collapsed as Alice's other arm was pulled and they were once again running.
"Tarrant, what's going on?!" She shouted.
Tarrant covered her mouth and pulled her back with a sudden jerk, her back against his chest and his back against the wall, hidden by a large marble pillar. The 2, 5, and 6, from the rest of the set assumably, passed them before Tarrant pushed her out into the open and was dragging her along. "Tha bloohdy behg head cheated us, Ahlice." He whispered in his dark outlandish accent.
He pulled her into what was his chamber while he was a guest and slammed the door, his back against it. He dropped his claymore and clutched his stomach before sliding down, eyes clamped shut. "We're safe now," He murmured. "You're safe." He said between ragged breaths. He felt his adrenaline rush wearing off.
She looked at him worriedly, concerned by his strange behavior. "Tarrant?" He held his side and bit his bottom lip. She went down on her knees next to him, "What's wrong?"
He moved his hand and she almost fainted from the amount of blood that stained his shirt. She pulled his shirt up and felt her breath catch. She, with a little struggle, pulled the fabric over his head and used it to block the wound. "Here, put as much pressure as you can on this." She ordered, looking around for something she could tie around it. "What happened, Tarrant?" She asked, going over to his workshop. Sure enough there were large scraps of fabrics that looked as strong as any bandages. She came back to see him wipe blood from his cheek, "That damned thief." Was all he said.
She looked up at his angry red eyes and the black that surrounded them, "What thief, Tarrant?" He closed his eyes as she tied off the fabric around his belly with a harsh pull. "Sorry," She whispered.
"That one that took you. He came out of the room to tell her majesty that you were dead and when Mctwisp looked in he saw the vorpal sword with blood and you weren't moving... He assumed that the bastard really had won. Tha bloohdy behg head took tha white kween down ta tha dungeon. Her execution be at dae break." Tarrant explained, his breathing slowly returning to normal.
Alice found herself growling. "I'll kill him," She whispered. Tarrant's eyes returned to green as he registered what she had said. "No, Alice!" He whispered, "You can't go out there... They'll kill you..."
She looked down to see the terror in his eyes at the thought of loosing her. He reached one arm over and looped it around her waist to pull her near him. She sat next to him with her back against the door. "I've already had the fright of loosing you too many times... I don't think I could handle it again." He looked down at the floor next to him, away from her. "Sometimes I still wonder if you're just my imagination."
She pulled her handicapped arm into her lap with a slight wince and used her good hand to make him look at her. "I'm still here, Tarrant." She whispered, "Nothing will take me away ever again."
Tarrant leaned down and brushed a small kiss across her lips. Alice moved away and stood, "Come on, Tarrant. Let's get you into the bed."
He nodded and pushed himself up. Alice was surprised at how strong her still was even after loosing such a large amount of blood. He felt her lifting his arm and wrapping it around her shoulders. He looked at her and smiled thankfully. He rest a small bit of his weight against her, but not a lot. He sat on the bed and looked up at her. She kissed his forehead and smiled at him. In her mind, she knew she had to save the queen or die trying, lest all of Underland be damned to serve under the Queen of Hearts.
But she simply didn't want to let go of Tarrant. She never wanted to leave his side ever again. She'd spent too much time away from him and it was slowly eating away at her inside. Tarrant wrapped his fingers around hers and placed her hand on his shoulder and then wrapped his arm around her waist, "Alice," he whispered. She leaned down and fell into his kiss. She pulled him closer by his shoulder, careful of her arm. With what remaining strength Tarrant had left he picked her up and put her behind him on the bed before lying down and looking into her deep brown eyes.
She winced a little, as he had set her on the bruised and broken appendage, but moved until she was comfortable. Tarrant wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, "Please don't leave me again, Alice," He asked.
Alice snuggled into him as she felt his grip on her weakening. Soon she could hear the gentle pounding of his heart against his chest. She pulled herself from his arms and looked at his sleeping form. It tore her heart to do this, but she climbed out of the bed. She looked at herself in the mirror. Who had she become recently? She didn't recognize the face that stared back. She was certain it was her face, but she could not be sure. She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat.
She shed the bottom half of the armor as quietly as she could and slowly opened the door to the room she had inhabited. She went to the wardrobe and found a corset. She slid it on and was thankful that it was still laced. She tugged the strings lighter and tied them. She reached in for a dress. The one she found she didn't' recognize, but the strange design led her to believe the hatter had made it for her -or at least designed it. She pulled it on.
The blue fabric was held up by two simply straps on her shoulders, one a thin string, the other a thick strap that pushed fabric behind her in an ancient Roman warrior fashion. She reached back with one hand and tied the strap beneath her breasts tight so it would not come loose. She looked in the mirror and was pleased at the unique shape of the garment. The bottom slanted, but did not go to her ankles nor did it expose above her knees. It would be exceptional should she wish to run. She rolled her shoulder and turned. She went back into Tarrant's room and grabbed her sword that had fallen on the floor while she examined his wounds. She opened the door set off in her search.
Staying in the shadows, Alice made her way to the infirmary -almost being spotted twice but she was a very lucky girl. She was very surprised to find it empty. "Hello?" She whispered. No one was even hiding in there to answer her. She closed the door and very cautiously looked around. She wasn't exactly searching for anyone in particular, but seeing a friendly face wouldn't be such a bad thing at this moment.
Alice knew very well that at this point, she could die, but it would not make her turn her back on her friends. She was loosing her courage faster and faster these days it seemed. She looked down at her hand and at the ring her hatter had given her. She looked back around. Alice knew she had to save him or at least be there when he awoke so they could be executed together.
She stumbled around the room for a little longer before finding a thick steal door at the very end behind a long heavy white curtain. She pushed aside the curtain and looked around through the bars on the top of the door. Slowly she pushed it open. She noticed that on the other side there was no handle. She went back in the infirmary and found a small instrument -what it was or was used for, she really couldn't say- to block the door from closing, but keep it open enough so that if anyone walked into the infirmary it would only look like a ridge in the curtain.
She looked around but could see nothing. It was too dark, but she could feel the drop of stairs beneath her feet. She put the back of her hand that held her sword against the wall and slowly began to walk down each stair one by one. It took a good hour or so until she saw the faint glow of light at the end. She looked around and found herself in a very strange place.
For a moment she didn't believe such a place could exist in the castle of Marmoreal. The amount of light that burst through was tiny, but she knew it was light. She found herself looking at a stone wall with small sprouts of light shooting forth between several bricks. She reached out to touch it and then pressed her ear to it. She heard voices and strained to make out words.
"Oh, Nivens can you ever forgive me for getting you into anything like this?" Mirana's voice asked.
"Of course, you majesty. Unlike most of Underland I am not loyal to the crown -only to you." Mctwisp's voice replied. Alice perked up. Had the infirmary door led to the dungeon? Well, more curious things had happened. She looked at the wall, for a handle or anything really and came up short. She knocked on the wall, "Mirana?" She whispered.
"Did you hear that?" Mirana's voice asked the little rabbit. Alice could not hear a reply. She knocked on the wall, "Mirana, it's me, Alice!" She said through the brick. She looked at the wall again and with one hand gave a hefty shove. She was disappointed when it didn't budge. "I'm going to get you out!" Alice announced.
She pushed harder. The wall still could not budge. She leaned back and pressed her shoulder to it, pushing with all her strength. The wall moved less than an inch. Alice smiled. She had gotten it that far; she could get it the rest of the wall. "Oh!" She heard Mirana say and she pushed again. It budged even less this time. She groaned and stepped back, throwing her weight against the wall.
It moved another inch. She looked and could see even more light pouring in. She looked at her weapon and got an idea. She thrust the sword between the door and a crack and pushed on it, praying it didn't break. It did not and the door opened a little more. "Mirana, can you grab the door and pull it open on that side?" Alice asked, pushing more on the side.
With the two women forcing the door open, it opened wide enough for Alice to step out. She saw Nivens and Mirana looking curiously at her. Mirana smiled and came to hug the girl around the shoulders. Alice pulled back quickly, "We haven't got much time! You have to get out of here!"
Mirana nodded, "But someone has to close this door!" She exclaimed. Alice looked at the front of the dungeon cell. "You and Mctwisp go up and stay in this passageway until I come for you. I'll close the door and get out of here."
The white queen smiled at her, "We have our champion." And with that she and the small white rabbit were in the passage. Alice pushed the door closed. That was much easier than opening it.
She looked around the cell for a moment. She shrugged and went to the door and jammed the end of the sword between the door and lock. In a few short moments she had the door open and was hurrying through the dungeon for find her way out. It was much easier than going down the staircase because torches lit almost every inch of the way. She climbed the stairs at the end of the corridor and was back in the normal levels of the palace.
Alice stuck to hiding from all the card soldiers. The last thing she wanted was to have to slaughter every card soldier the queen possessed. That was a good six or seven decks! She made her way to the throne room and chose not to hide any more. She kicked the door open and saw the Jabberwocky curled around Mirana's throne and Iracibeth. Century was standing to the left, commanding a troop of cards soldiers.
Iracibeth caught sight of the blond and called, "Off with her head!"
"No!" Century shouted, darting down the steps to Alice. "What are you doing here?" He hissed at her.
She drew her swords and pointed it at him, "You lied to me." She shouted, swinging her sword. He backed up. "You tricked me." She screamed, backing him up even more. "You tried to kill everything I care about!" Anger seeped through her pores as he tripped over the steps and landed on his back. "Explain yourself." She growled.
He tried to move her weapon from at his throat, but she wouldn't have any of that. "You were supposed to wait until I came for you, imbecile! I was going to come for you once that stupid white woman and madman were dead!" He shouted angrily.
Alice put the tip of her sword against his exposed neck. "Well, that'll cost you. You cheated me out of having complete use of my body... I guess I'll have to repay the favor." And with that she swung her blade down on his arm. He screamed in pain at the dismembered appendage. Alice moved up the steps as a line of card soldiers stepped in her way. Alice swung her blade and knocked one over -which in turn knocked over the rest of them like a row of dominos. Alice made her way to the tail of the Jabberwocky. "You've lost, Iracibeth." She hissed.
The red head laughed, "I don't think so. You silly queen is in my-"
"Is free running about the castle as her troops collect yours to rally against you." Alice lied.
"And your madman-"
Alice smirked, "Is safe, hidden away from all the harms you could give him. Face it, you've lost! Your soldiers aren't strong enough to take down one little girl. Your champion is minus an arm. Your ex knave is dead. Your servants are loyal to Mirana and the only thing you have left is your Jabberwocky."
Iracibeth's face grew scarlet all over. "Jabberwocky!" She shouted, "Get rid of this pest!"
Electric purple flames rumbled through the beast's mouth and down where Alice had once been standing. Alice moved with the agility of a cat. She watched the Jabberwocky move from around its master. Another quick flare came her way and Alice dove behind the throne. The creature growled at her as Iracibeth's shoulders were pinned to the back of the chair. "You wouldn't murder your own master, would you?"
Iracibeth growled, "Unhand me!"
Alice held fast and came around the throne, pulling the bloody big head to stand. "I'm going to escort her humanely to the dungeon. If you want to follow, you can, but attack me and I won't hesitate to take hurt her." Alice said. She pulled the queen along, her sword clutched between the cloth of Iracibeth's dress and her hand. Alice looked down sorrowfully at the young oracle. She shook her head and forced herself not to think of all the blood that was now on her hands.
She walked Iracibeth down to the dungeon, none of her servants daring to face her as they were loyal to the red head. Alice had no problem out of the large dragon as she forced the red queen to open cell after cell of chess piece guards. Many were injured and Alice instructed them to go up to the infirmary, telling the stronger ones to stay at the top of the stairs. Iracibeth freed the last cell and was pushed in gently. Alice closed the door and turned to the dragon, "See? I did nothing to harm her. Now, I'm going to go back up and fetch the guards -who will treat her as I did- to lock the door. Are you going to stay here with her?"
The beast nodded angrily. "You can't attack the guards. They will have orders to kill her should you attack. Understood?" The beast nodded again.
Alice walked slowly and went up the stairs. "The beast will not attack you," She said to the guards. "If any of you have a key to lock it, that would be fantastic. I need a small group of you to head to the infirmary and fix up as many of them as you can and another small group needs to go to the throne room to clean up the mess, please. I'm going to fetch the queen."
Alice walked away, finding that she rather liked this taking charge thing. It saved a lot of time. She ran with her small group up to the infirmary. She thrust back the curtain and pulled open the door to see Mirana and Mctwisp squinting into the light. Mirana grinned again, "Thank you, Alice! I am in your debt once again."
Alice motioned to her arm, "It really hurts. If you could numb it, I would be most grateful."
Mirana flitted out of the little room and over to the large cabinet in front of one of the huge windows. She immediately began mixing things in a bowl. She extended a spoonful to her champion who took it without question. It didn't taste foul -in fact it had no taste at all! "It will only work for a few hours, but that should be enough time for me to tend my guards and work up a more permanent solution to it."
Alice smiled, "Thank you. I have to get back to Tarrant before he wakes. I'm going to bring him here as well when he does... I think he was stabbed." She sighed and turned to leave, but was stopped when the white queen asked, "What have you done with my sister?"
"Dungeon!" Was all Alice said as she left. Tarrant's room was perhaps the easiest to find in the castle to Alice. She had already memorized the way to and from it from certain places.
Alice opened the door and laid her sword against the wall. She was very happy to find her had not awoken in her absence. She quietly closed the door and crawled up on the bed next to him. He stirred a little, his eyes opening a bit. "Alice?" He asked.
She smiled and lay next to him, crawling under the blanket, "Yes, Tarrant?"
"Have I ever told you I love you?" He asked sleepily. She giggled like a child at his half asleep state, "No, you haven't."
"Well, I do." He said, reaching out for her with his hands and pulling her against him before closing his eyes again. Alice felt completely calm once again. She smiled into his chest and found that she rather enjoyed this feeling of being in his arms. She closed her eyes and sighed happily as his body coaxed hers to fall asleep.
~~~**Tarrant X Alice**~~~
Tarrant opened his eyes and looked down, frowning. He'd had a strange dream that he'd told Alice he loved her and that she'd curled up in his arms. He knew it was a dream now that he'd awoken and she wasn't there. He rolled over and looked up at the ceiling. "So you can wake up!" A small voice next to him said. Confused he looked over to see a door mouse next to him on a small tray of tools. He sat up and looked around. The infirmary? How had he gotten there? WHEN had he gotten there?
"Mally?" He asked.
She grinned her mousy little grin and stood up, "The one and only!"
"What are you doing here? I thought you were mad at me."
She waved a finger at him, "Now you have done some terrible things to me in your madness, but nothing could keep me mad at you, hatter! You and the hare are the closest friends I have. Alice sent me to make sure you got this," She moved aside and motioned her tiny paws to the paper behind her with his name on it, "when you awoke."
He reached over and picked it up, reading it. He could almost hear Alice's voice in his mind reading it to him. "My dearest Hatter, I'm sorry I couldn't be there to give you this in person, but I had many things to do to prepare for the ball. Your queen has asked you to attend because she has a very special announcement for you. It is tonight at the twenty-first hour. I'll see you there."
Mally grinned up at him, "Well, I guess you'd better go get ready then." She hopped down from the tray and onto the bed next to him, hugging his finger and then leaving.
He tossed himself out of the bed and went to his room, wondering what time it was. When he got to his room he quickly noticed that he had proper bandages wrapped around his belly. He shook his head and undressed, heading for the washroom. He bathed and redressed quickly, choosing to wear a mismatching striped socks with a kilt (red and white plaid) to match his red vest and a white shirt beneath that. Over this all he wore a long black coat that made him look very nice. He pushed his feet into his shoes that were next to the bed for some strange reason. He looked in the mirror and his brows drew together in confusion. He patted his head as if not believing he could be without a hat.
After searching his entire room and having a servant fetching him for the ball, Tarrant gave up looking and pouted the entire way to the ballroom. It was filled with so many people who all congratulated him, but for what he didn't know. He was too busy scanning the large crowd for Alice. She said she'd be there, but where was she?
"Tarrant!" Mirana greeted with a pleasant smile.
He bowed, "Your majesty."
"I trust you are enjoying yourself?" She asked calmly, waving to one of the many Underland citizens. He nodded, "Oh, yes. Very much so! I was just wondering if you might know where Alice is."
Mirana smiled and motioned her head towards the door that led to a balcony. He gave a gap-toothed smile and nodded before heading off to find her.
Alice was looking off into the night, her hands drawn in front of her. Tarrant noted that her hair was pinned up behind her head, leaving only two strands down in the front that were curled more elegantly than usual. It was a nice look, but it wasn't her looks that had made him fall in love with her. He walked next to her after closing the doors. "Nice night," He exclaimed.
She didn't smile, "Very nice indeed."
Tarrant was puzzled. He figured she'd be in an over joyous mood. This ball was obviously to celebrate that the red queen would no longer be a problem to any of Underland. What could she be upset about? He looked off in the distance and for a moment he remembered how she had come to Underland all those years ago for the first time. The door she'd come through was still open to travelers... "Alice... Are you going to go back to the Abovelands?" He asked.
Alice turned and was about to answer when the white queen's voice rose about the crowd. "Alright, quiet everyone!" Everyone obeyed. Alice reached up and placed his hat atop his head. He should've known she had it. "We should move inside." She whispered, taking his hand in hers and leading him in the doors.
Mirana was up in what resembled a theatre box. She was grinning radiantly; her black lips making her teeth seem extra white. "This ball and feast tonight have been dedicated to the permanent Champion of Underland, Alice Kingsleigh!" She announced, "Alice will be living out the remainder of her days as an official citizen of Underland!" The crowd cheered and Tarrant looked down to see Alice's head was bowed.
He wondered if she were homesick... He could not tell if she was crying or just hiding, but the strand on the side of her face hid her expression from him. "But that is not all we celebrate tonight. Tonight we celebrate the engagement of our Champion to our beloved hatter, Tarrant Hightopp!" Mirana called out. The crowd cheered and turned to face the couple.
Tarrant looked down with a dropped jaw at her. She smiled up at him happily. His green eyes were wild with excitement, "Really?" He asked.
She nodded happily and was going to say something, but the hatter couldn't wait any longer. He covered her mouth in a kiss that could suck the very life out of her. She was pulled closer to her as he lifted her off the ground and spun her around, never breaking the kiss. She grinned when he finally put her down and pushed up on her tip toes. "I love you too, Tarrant Hightopp." She whispered, kissing his cheek. Tarrant hugged her tight and heard Mirana telling everyone to dance and enjoy themselves.
Alice giggled as Tarrant flutterwackened until he could barely move and then insisted upon teaching her, which she learned quickly. The two danced long into the night and then retired to their chamber where they whispered happy nonsense to each other and sweet nothings until they faded off to their dreams of each other in which nothing could ever tear them apart.
(The End! I hope everyone likes my happy ending :) To end any questions you might have about the mind battle, when you commit suicide, its like withdrawing from the game. When you withdraw you're brought back to reality almost immediately. When you first drink the potion and are waiting to leave the battle it takes about an hour or so. Just adding a little clarification there.
It has been a long run and I'm pleased with the ending. It wasn't incredibly sappy and stupid, but it wasn't so not caring that I just wanted to delete it so, yeah! Don't forget to review and tell me how you like it!)
