A Mad, Wonderful World

Chapter Three Sisters Reunited

When Margaret opened her eyes, she was surprised and pleased to find that the aches and pains that had lanced through her body had completely vanished. She lifted her arm, and gasped as she noticed that she could not see any trace of the cuts she had received from her fall. She gaped in amazement, and then looked as the door opened. A woman in her late 30s walked in the room, and smiled gently at her.

"I'm glad to see you awake, Margaret. How are you feeling?"

Margaret blinked. "I…do I know you?"

Alannah laughed. "Lady Alannah Stayne. We met briefly a few years ago when I came to Overland with your sister and Tarrant Hightopp. Incidentally, Alice has been pestering me for hours about seeing you. She's right outside."

Margaret's eyes widened in recognition. "Of course! I remember you now, Lady Stayne. You gave my husband quite the tongue lashing, if I recall. I found it very amusing."

Alannah laughed. "So did I." She walked over to the bed and sat next to her, placing her hand on her forehead. "You're a bit warm, but that could just be due to the fall. And I insist that you call me Alannah."

Margaret smiled. "Very well, Alannah. You said my sister was here?" Alannah nodded. "Well, I want to see her."

The door opened, and Alice came running in. "Meggie! I can't believe you're here! What happened? Why are you here?"

Margaret smiled at the nickname. "You haven't called me Meggie since we were little. I've missed you, Alice."

Alice ran up to the bed and sat next to her, gazing into her eyes. Margaret smiled, realizing that Alice had the same hazel eyes as their father. Margaret's eyes were blue, like their mother's. Alice kissed her on the cheek, and Margaret felt a warmth rush through her. Oh, she had missed her little sister! They clung to each other for a few moments, and then Alice asked the question that had been on her mind.

"Meggie, what are you doing in Underland?"

Margaret's cheeks bloomed with shame and anger. "Alice, I should have listened to your warnings about Lowell. I should have kept a more firm eye on him. But now…" she put her hand to her mouth, and let out a brief sob. Alice hugged her, and spoke soothingly.

"Don't cry, Meggie. Tell me what happened."

Margaret wiped her eyes, and then looked at Alannah in slight worry. Alice read her meaning, and smiled. "Alannah will never reveal anything. You can trust her, Meggie."

Margaret nodded, trusting her sister's judgment. "I caught him cheating on me with a…floozy! I made him a nice lunch, and took it to his office…yesterday…I think. I caught them shagging on the office couch!" she yelled, and then covered her mouth in shock. She very rarely swore.

Alice felt her blood boil. "Oh, Meggie. I am so sorry. That slurvish bastard!"

Margaret looked at her, confused. "Slurvish?"

Alannah laughed. "Alice, one would think you were native, you speak Outlandish so much." She looked at Margaret. "Slurvish means self centered."

Alice chuckled. "It's my husband's influence. He speaks it almost all the time. He wants Arianna and Josiah to be fluent in it-and they're almost there."

Margaret blinked in shock. "Husband? Alice, you're married?"

Alice blushed. "Yes, to Tarrant Hightopp. Arianna and Josiah are our twin children. I've never been happier, Meggie. Tarrant is such a wonderful father."

Margaret furrowed her brow in thought. "Tarrant Hightopp? Alice, was he the man that came with you when you visited?" At Alice's eager nod, Margaret chuckled ruefully. "I might have known that someone as mad as you would marry someone as mad as him. But as your big sister, there is one thing I must know. Are you truly happy?"

Alice smiled softly. "I am. Tarrant does have a few flaws, and he can be quite mad sometimes, but I know how to bring him back to reality. He would never do anything to hurt me or the twins."

Margaret grinned. "Then that endorsement is good enough for me. As soon as I recover my strength, and Alannah says I'm able to get out of this bed, I insist on meeting your family. Alannah, I also want to thank your husband for the kindness he showed me in getting me here."

Alannah nodded. "I'm sure he would appreciate that. If you like I could give you a draught that will allow you to get out of bed right now."

Margaret smiled at Alice, and then shook her head. "If you don't mind, I'd like to spend some time alone with my sister first."

Alannah grinned. "Of course. You probably have a lot of catching up to do. It was nice to see you again, Margaret."

She walked out of the room, and straight into Tarrant. He looked anxiously at her, and craned his neck to see into the room. Alannah placed her hand on his shoulder. "You're going to have to wait a bit, Tarrant. They're having sister talk."

Tarrant pouted. "What's Alice's sister doing here, anyway?"

"She fell down the Rabbit Hole. How else do Overlanders get here? The Looking Glass was smashed years ago, so the Hole is the only entrance left."

Tarrant rolled his eyes. "I know how she got here, Alannah! What I meant was why is she here?"

Alannah gazed at him seriously. "She is here for her own reason. If she wants to tell you, she will. But don't try and wheedle it out of her." Tarrant's eyes flashed light blue with unease. Alannah's gaze softened. "She has no intention of trying to make Alice go back to Overland. In fact, she wants to meet you and the twins. So set your mad mind at ease, Tarrant. You're not going to lose your wife."

Tarrant breathed a huge sigh of relief, and Alannah chuckled. He walked over to a window seat and sat down, gazing intently at the closed door. Alannah laughed, and then sat next to him, nudging his arm playfully. "Try not to kill Time again." He shook his head, and then continued to stare at the door.

"I won't, I promise. I'm just waiting. Time will understand that." He sighed. "What if she doesn't like me? What if she tells me that I'm completely wrong for Alice? What do I do?"

Alannah smiled gently at him. "Tarrant, you do not have anything to be worried about. Just be your usual mad, charming self and you'll be fine. As for you being wrong for Alice, I don't think I've ever known two people who were more right for each other."

He looked at her, a mischievous grin on his face. "What about you and Ilosivic?"

She laughed. "Well, that goes without saying."

Tarrant relaxed, then continued to stare at the door.